health
Are you breathing properly? How I found out I wasn’t
You might think of breathing as automatic, but dysfunctional breathing can arise even if you’re healthy
TL;DR
- Dysfunctional breathing, or breathing pattern disorder, involves breathlessness or difficulty breathing that can occur independently of any underlying disease.
- Correct breathing involves the belly rising upon inhalation (diaphragmatic breathing), and is slow, quiet, and nasal.
- Improper breathing is shallow, rapid, through the mouth, and may cause shoulder movement.
- Up to 12% of adults may experience dysfunctional breathing, characterized by chronic breathlessness, persistent hyperventilation, mouth breathing, over-breathing, or shallow breathing.
- This condition can be self-perpetuating, creating a vicious cycle where negative feelings about breathing lead to anxiety and further hyperventilation.
- Consequences of disordered breathing include sleep problems, mental health conditions, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and exacerbation of existing conditions like asthma and IBS.
- Treatment may involve breathing assessments, breathing exercises, lifestyle changes, and sometimes specialized multidisciplinary teams.
- Mindfully slowing down breathing can help control the nervous system's stress response and contribute to healthier breathing patterns.