Hi Tink, bonjour. Yes, think this is a common problem, chest restriction. The costo aggravated by the Sjogren's does it to me, have to do deep breathing exercises. Climbing the stairs here gets me a bit beathless - but try to do the extra set of, for 'exercise' of lungs.
As for holding breath, haven't tried that in a forever (never use hair spray, nor even fragrances, can't abide the smell and an allergic to the spray) but do still try holding a note, or 'hum' on a sound: as in the a,e,i,o,u sounds. Breath control - much the same as holding yr breath. That is helpful. And ensuring intercostal diaphragmatic, deep breathing, down to the bottom of the lungs - you can feel the intercostal muscle expand: feel it with your hands, each side of lower rib cage.
Hope you manage to sort, horrible. Meanwhile take care. Stop and *Breath!
