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Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat.
Breathing comes naturally. Why should you think about, or practice, what you
already do on your own, without thinking?
The way you breathe can affect the way you feel. As we experience stress, we
tend to breath in faster, shallower breaths. We don’t even notice this is
happening. Practicing full, deep breathing can help reduce tension and increase
relaxation.
For people with chronic pain, the breath is often also drawn in sharply, and never
completely pushed out. This can add to the pain if it is in the back, torso, or neck,
because it adds strain to the muscles that are working hard to draw breathe in, but
can’t relax to let the breath out to the same degree. This is why deep breathing
exercises can help the body relax in a way that may help reduce chronic pain. It is
worth it to add breathing to your other exercises every day, or at least, every other
day.
Breathing comes naturally. Why should you think about, or practice, what you
already do on your own, without thinking?
The way you breathe can affect the way you feel. As we experience stress, we
tend to breath in faster, shallower breaths. We don’t even notice this is
happening. Practicing full, deep breathing can help reduce tension and increase
relaxation.
For people with chronic pain, the breath is often also drawn in sharply, and never
completely pushed out. This can add to the pain if it is in the back, torso, or neck,
because it adds strain to the muscles that are working hard to draw breathe in, but
can’t relax to let the breath out to the same degree. This is why deep breathing
exercises can help the body relax in a way that may help reduce chronic pain. It is
worth it to add breathing to your other exercises every day, or at least, every other
day.
Smoking is a major risk factor for Heart and Lung problems (as well as for many
other problems, such as Cancer). However, its hard to quit. Smokefree.gov has
online materials to help you quit and also has information on state "Quitlines" (hot
lines that will give you moral support while you are trying to quit smoking). Call
1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848)or visit online, http://www.smokefree.gov
other problems, such as Cancer). However, its hard to quit. Smokefree.gov has
online materials to help you quit and also has information on state "Quitlines" (hot
lines that will give you moral support while you are trying to quit smoking). Call
1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848)or visit online, http://www.smokefree.gov
Lung Health
from Living Older, Living Better! by Katrina Gwinn, MD
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