Breathing: Are You Sure You're Doing It the Right Way?

Walking, running, jumping, and even strutting - different activities are done every day with the help of breathing. When we eat, we breathe. When we do our household chores, we breathe. Even when we sleep, we must breathe. That is why we can somehow say that we are experts and professional breathers. What if we tell you, you're not?

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According to Nursing Times, breathing uses chemical and mechanical processes in bringing oxygen to every cell of the body and get rid of carbon dioxide. They added that the body needs oxygen which is achieved when inhaling in fueling all our living processes. Healthline shared a technique in breathing called 4-7-8 developed by Dr. Andre Weil. The breathing technique is based on an ancient yogic technique called pranayama, which helps an individual or the practitioner gain control over their breathing. Healthline further said that this exercise can give the organs and tissues of the body an oxygen boost. 

This practice is really helpful when stressed because it gives a certain relief in the chest. Mashable Asia gave some tips on how to improve your breathing and make you a better expert on the field.

Increase Carbon Dioxide

According to Science Daily, produced by humans and also microorganisms from fermentation and cellular respiration. In the atmosphere, they are in low concentration and acts as a greenhouse gas. Although it has a bad effect on the environment and the body, Mashable Asia said that weirdly, increasing the amount of CO2 in the lungs in a tolerable amount is one of the best things an individual can do to allow access to more oxygen in the blood. They said that it is the Bohr effect.

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Shut your mouth

When sleeping, you might sometimes notice that your mouth is open when you wake up. According to Mashable, an individual might not be aware that he or she is a mouth breather because it might happen during sleep. Healthline added that mouth taping is a home remedy that should help in treating mouth breathing when asleep. They added that mouth breathing is associated with health conditions such as allergies, oral health, and snoring.

Always use your nose

According to Mashable Asia, nasal breathing regulates the intake of air so that carbon dioxide will be a less problem. They added that breaths from the sinuses release a large amount of nitric oxide, a gas that increases circulation, boosts the immune system, and plays a role in sexual function. Medical News Today added that nitric oxide is a compound in the body that causes blood vessels in widening and triggering the release of certain hormones like insulin and human growth hormone. 

Use your nose when exercising

The Washington Post mentioned a study where ten runners are tested for six months utilizing nasal breathing. The results found that the maximum rate of oxygen consumption did not change when using the nose and the mouth. However, the runners' respiratory rate, breaths per minute, and the ratio of oxygen intake to carbon dioxide output diminished during nasal breathing. In an interview with Triathlete, former USA Triathlon National team coach, Dr. George Dallam said that the nose is made to filter, humidify, and regulate the temperature of the air people inhale. When breathing through the mouth, the air does not undergo that process. 

Practicing these steps to improve your breathing can help you, especially during exercise. Increased intake of oxygen can fuel the body's function and make you more active.

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