Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways in the lungs. If you have asthma, your airways can be inflamed and narrow. This makes it harder for air to flow out of your airways when you breathe out.

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Breathing is all we think about during an asthma attack

What you need to know:

How can breathing techniques help with asthma?
4 Breathing techniques for asthma

How can breathing techniques help with asthma?

Breathing exercises have proven to help manage asthma symptoms and improve overall quality of life. They are not an alternative to medicines but tools to improve breathing and lung function and minimize asthma attacks. Breathing exercises help retrain our breathing, strengthen the muscles in and around our respiratory system, improve lung function, and improve the flexibility of the rib cage by allowing it to expand and relax better. They also help reduce the levels of stress hormones in the blood and balance the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in our bodies.

4 Breathing techniques for asthma

Improving breathing techniques through exercises can increase breathing control, enhancing lung health and its function. Practising breathing techniques regularly strengthens the lungs, promotes relaxation, and prevents or manages asthma attacks better. Here are 4 breathing techniques for asthma that can improve your quality of life:

Pursed lip breathing

Pursed lip breathing is a technique to pump the oxygen level in your lungs. It helps in managing shortness of breath by slowing down your breathing. Sit upright and inhale through your nose, keeping your mouth closed. Hold the air to a count of 4. Then purse your lips like you are blowing on a candle and exhale the air slowly and gently. This technique will also help you control your breathing and calm down.

Diaphragmatic breathing

Diaphragmatic breathing is a deep breathing technique that can prevent hyperventilation during an asthma attack. It involves better use of the diaphragm instead of shallow breathing movements. You can lie down on your back with the knees bent and a pillow underneath them or sit upright. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly. Breathe in slowly through your nose. Your hand on the chest must remain still while that on your belly rises – that’s the goal. Exhale through your mouth with pursed lips. Repeat till you can feel the involvement of your diaphragm.

Nasal breathing

We often don’t realize but our mouth becomes dominant in inhaling and exhaling the air we breathe. This can lead to severe symptoms of asthma. Nasal breathing, as the name suggests, is breathing through your nose consciously, you eliminate the involvement of the mouth while breathing. This type of breathing adds humidity and warmth to the air you breathe. Focus on inhaling and exhaling through your nose to practise nasal breathing.

Thoracic expansion exercises

Thoracic expansion exercise is the expansion of your thoracic spine. Sit upright on a chair or bed and breathe normally. Then as you inhale join your hands and raise them above your head. When you exhale, bring your hands down. Repeat this for a few minutes till you feel an ease in breathing as you perform this exercise.

Sometimes breathing techniques for asthma can be customized to suit a patient according to their condition and management ability. Your healthcare provider can further guide you with exercises that suit you better according to your age, location, and activity levels.

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