While it became a top 20 hit in the Netherlands and New Zealand, the song was less successful in the United States, where it peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100.

[2] Mario teamed up with Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen from Norwegian production duo Stargate to work on his third studio album Go (2007).

Along with co-writer Ne-Yo, Eriksen and Hermansen produced two songs for Go, none of which made the final track listing.

Gail Mitchell, writing for Billboard found that the song espouses the timeless feel of "Let Me Love You," while Mark Edward Nero of About.com noted that "the track isn't particularly groundbreaking, but it has a simple charm, in a sort of Ne-Yo meets Toni Braxton kind of way.

[12] Set in Los Angeles, it features actor Xavier Lamar Truesdell in a guest appearance.

[13] After its premiere, "How Do I Breathe" received heavy airplay on BET's music video countdown show 106 & Park.