Proper breathing and its impact on health: 10 facts

Proper breathing strengthens our immunity, rejuvenates the body, fights against chronic diseases and prolongs life. But this is such a natural process for us that we underestimate its importance. Doctors and yogis are sure that this is an erroneous approach. Unlike the heartbeat, we can control our breathing, which means we have the opportunity to improve our health.

The editors of estet-portal.com share interesting and useful facts about proper breathing.

• What is proper breathing and its benefits
• 10 interesting facts about breathing and its health benefits
• How to breathe correctly: an effective technique

What is proper breathing and its benefits

Proper breathing — this is abdominal breathing, when the stomach is filled with air, and not the chest. In this case, the inhalation should be quick and short, and the exhalation should be longer (2-3 times longer than the inhalation). Breathing rate should be slow.

Belly (diaphragmatic) breathing has its advantages:

• such breathing calms the nervous system;

• blood is saturated with oxygen;

• the person feels more energetic and alert;

• the work of the heart improves and the pressure returns to normal.

Abdominal breathing is characteristic of all children, while adults most often breathe shallowly and involve the chest in the process. This type of breathing is also called costal breathing. At the same time, it is believed that abdominal breathing is more characteristic of men, and women — costal. And here young people have a mixed type of breathing.

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10 interesting facts about breathing and its health benefits

It is a well-known fact that without access to oxygen, a person will live no more than 7 minutes. After that, he will lose consciousness and irreversible changes in the body will begin, which will lead to death. But that isn all we need to know about breathing.

We put together a useful collection of facts for you about the importance of breathing for human health:

1. Nose — this is a kind of filter with 4 cleaning stages. In this way, the air is cleaned of harmful microbes and heated to the required temperature.

2. If a child breathes through the mouth all the time, then this causes problems with the upper respiratory tract and results in intellectual retardation.Due to the habit of breathing through the mouth children develop a lisp and malocclusion.

3. It is important to breathe through the nose, and not through the mouth, even for adults. Nasal breathing improves brain function. It is especially harmful to breathe through the mouth in an urban environment, as the penetration of harmful gases increases.

4. Proper yoga breathing can help you lose weight. This is due to the fact that the metabolic process in the body is getting better.

5. If you need to calm down and get rid of excitement, then you should take a few slow and deep breaths and exhalations. The exhalation should be longer than the inhalation. This is especially helpful before public performances.

6. Sports increase the volume of the lungs, which allows you to saturate the blood with oxygen faster. You will be able to walk, climb stairs without any problems, and your general well-being will improve. Swimming, skiing & running — these sports are especially beneficial for increasing lung capacity.

7. If you do not regularly ventilate the room, then microbes multiply intensively in it. They enter the human body through breathing and cause infectious diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to ventilate the rooms even in the cold season.

8. In order to breathe properly, it is necessary to monitor posture.

9. Breath-holding is good for health. It improves blood circulation, lung function and gas exchange. To do this, you need to exhale, inhale, exhale again, hold your breath and inhale.

10. Deep and slow breathing will help to cope with insomnia and fall asleep faster. Such breathing perfectly calms the nervous system.

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How to breathe correctly: an effective technique

Belly breathing is good for the health of the whole human body, but it takes time to master it. In order for proper breathing to become a habit, you can do breathing exercises 3-4 times a day for 10 minutes.

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How to breathe properly for a healthy person:

1. Sit in a chair and relax.

2. Inhale lightly and effortlessly through your nose.

3. Inhale deeply, expanding your belly.

4. Slowly exhale and pull the front wall of the abdomen towards spine.

5. Try to inhale quickly and exhale slowly.

6. You shouldn't stretch yourself too much and feel uncomfortable. Otherwise, it may cause  dizziness.

Proper breathing helps you live a healthier and longer life. To do this, you need to breathe with the help of the abdomen, and not the chest. Such breathing not only improves well-being, protects from many diseases, but and will come in handy in stressful situations when you need to cope with excitement. You can learn how to breathe properly with the help of breathing exercises, hiking, sports and giving up bad habits.

Read also: Proper breathing technique: learning to breathe with your stomach

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