The Impact of Breathing on Health
It seems odd to question something that we do without thinking. We don’t usually consider the breaths we take, but perhaps we should. Did you know breathing can either increase or decrease stress, anxiety, and blood pressure? It’s true. New research says the way we breathe can make us healthier.
Inflation, ever-increasing prices of goods and services, the risk of job loss and homelessness – these are all realities that most of us face daily. No wonder we are stressed to the max!
The extreme pressure that many people face today are causing all types of health problems such as depression, anxiety, and heart disease.
Many people seek quick fixes to these problems by turning to drugs or alcohol. However, these things only cover up the negative symptoms they are having. Over time, if uncontrolled stress is left untreated, medication might be necessary to control the medical issues that may develop.
Although medication is often necessary for many medical conditions, the problem is that most drugs come with side effects that can damage other parts of our body, which can lead to worsening health.
Therefore, finding simple, natural ways to fight stress before we might need to take medication, is essential to good health and wellbeing.
How changing our breathing can improve health
Many studies show how slow, deep breathing can have a positive, healthy result on the body, reducing the adverse effects of daily stress. Changing the way we breathe can help lower stress and blood pressure because of the systems in our bodies that regulate these functions.
For example, our autonomic nervous system is the system that regulates the body functions that we don’t consciously perform. These are things such as our heart rate, digestion of the food we eat, and respiration (or breathing).
Slow, deep breathing activates this system and helps to reduce blood pressure by causing the blood vessels to dilate (expand).
Additional studies have found that using a breathing exercise called inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST), can help reduce systolic blood pressure (when the heart is pumping) by up to 9 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure (when the heart is resting), by up to 4 mmHg.
Are Breathing Exercises Healthy?
Breathing exercises are generally considered safe. However, some medical conditions could put you at risk when performing breathwork especially those who have respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Always ask your doctor before performing any type of breathwork or breathing exercises as they will be able to determine if it is safe for you.
There are different types of breathing exercises and finding one that works for you is as easy as searching the internet.
Here Are 5 Breathing Exercises for Stress Reduction and Relaxation:
- 4-7-8 method
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Pranayama breathing
- Breathing tools used for IMST breathing
- Box breathing
Consider trying one or more breathing methods to help you reduce stress. Even the act of focusing on your breath can help with consciously changing the way you breathe. This can help you gain control of your body and can start you on a path toward better health and wellness.
Practice focusing on your breath patterns daily, and over time, you will see how much better you feel.
