Breathing exercises improve lung function, contribute to balancing blood pressure, help the mind relax, and enhance overall health.
Reduce asthma symptoms
Asthma is a respiratory disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways, causing difficulty breathing during exercise, exposure to pollen, and colds. Some medications can reduce asthma symptoms but do not cure them completely. Breathing exercises can help control asthma symptoms, improve lung function, and improve quality of life for patients.
Patients can practice pursed-lip breathing at any time of the day, about 5-10 minutes a day. Simple breathing techniques help slow breathing, which is especially helpful during activities such as bending, lifting or climbing stairs. Start the exercise by relaxing your neck and shoulders, closing your mouth, and inhaling slowly through your nose. Then the practitioner purses his lips as if whistling, exhaling slowly by blowing air through his pursed lips.
Lower blood pressure
Hypertension (high blood pressure) increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Deep breathing for a few minutes a day has a relaxing effect, increases endorphin hormones, reduces adrenaline, and contributes to balancing blood pressure.
People with high blood pressure practice breathing exercises to bring their heart rate to normal levels and increase oxygen in the blood. Hypertension often has no symptoms until the patient accidentally discovers it. Patients should consult their doctor before exercising.
Reduce anxiety
Stress is a state that everyone encounters in life. Breathing exercises contribute to mental relaxation, control conditions such as anxiety disorders, stress, and reduce heart rate and breathing rate. Exercise also reduces cortisol levels – the stress hormone. Excess cortisol causes inflammation, which can weaken immune function and increase the risk of diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Increased levels of this hormone can also make it difficult for many people to adhere to healthy eating habits. strong.
Pain relief
Deep breathing contributes to reducing acute pain after surgery. Because breathing exercises stimulate endogenous opioids – chemical compounds that help regulate pain and mood. Intentional breathing also strengthens respiratory muscles such as the diaphragm and deep abdominal muscles, helping to reduce pain.
Most breathing exercises are beneficial for health. However, when you are worried about your health condition and want to learn about correct breathing, you can consult a respiratory doctor or yoga teacher. Practitioners should find a quiet, comfortable space to practice.