These exercises help to increase the amount of air that is inhaled into the lungs, as well as to allow more air to be expelled during exhalation. This increased inhalation and exhalation allows for more oxygen to be taken in and more carbon dioxide to be expelled in each breath. The result is a person who has trained his lungs and respiratory muscles to be more efficient. For an athlete, increased lung capacity can help give him an advantage.
With more lung capacity, he can achieve greater endurance while engaging in his particular activity. In addition, an exerciser typically has a larger blood volume, is better able to extract oxygen from the air in the lungs and is better able to extract oxygen from the blood at the working muscles than a sedentary individual is. Gas exchange involves not only oxygen delivery but also the removal of carbon dioxide, which is a byproduct of energy metabolism, and this process is also more efficient in an exerciser.
When all is said and done, regular exercise produces numerous favorable changes that collectively result in the body being able to work in a far more efficient manner. All of us are born with the ability to increase our physical fitness levels through regular exercise so it is unfortunate that many peoples' sedentary lifestyles and lack of exercise result in unfavorable outcomes in terms of disease. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges we face in developed societies is how to facilitate and encourage healthier lifestyles that include regular physical activity.
Left unchecked, this problem will contribute to ever-increasing health care costs and higher disease rates. Regular exercise is not the magic bullet in terms of disease prevention, but, when combined with a healthy diet, it may be the best intervention currently available to any one who is willing to get up off the couch. Sign up for our email newsletter.
Already a subscriber? Research supports that this breathing exercise significantly improves the strength of respiratory muscles, and increases the volume of lung oxygen intake. The end result is deeper, easier and better breathing for a superior endurance performance and longer breath holding capacity. VO2 Max defines the climax of muscle oxygen delivery before CO2 levels rise. At this point, muscle performance decreases and shortness of breath increases. It is also an excellent exercise for COPD patients to get rid of the trapped air in the alveoli for better gas exchange.
It can help to keep a clock that shows the seconds nearby. For people who are not very physically active and may not be exercising their breathing muscles frequently, pursed lip breathing may have particular benefits. This exercise from the American Lung Association helps improve the rate at which the lungs expand and contract. Belly breathing specifically focuses on strengthening the diaphragm muscle, which allows a person to take a deep breath.
To enhance lung function, practice belly breathing and pursed lip breathing for about 5—10 minutes every day. If breathlessness or shortness of breath arise while exercising, interval training may be a better alternative to steady exercise.
Interval training involves alternating between short periods of more strenuous and less strenuous exercise. For example, a person could try walking at a very fast pace for 1 minute, then walking more slowly for 2 minutes, in a cycle. Similarly, a person may perform a strength training activity for 1 minute, such as bicep curls or lunges, then walk at a gentle pace for 2—3 minutes.
Any time that exercise causes shortness of breath, it is a good idea to slow down for a few minutes. It can help to practice pursed lip breathing until the breathlessness subsides. Exercises cannot reverse lung damage, but they can help a person use their lungs to their fullest capacity. If a person has symptoms of poor lung health, such as shortness of breath during daily activities, pain when breathing, or a cough that will not go away, they should contact a doctor.
The earlier a person receives treatment for any lung problems, the better the outcome is likely to be. Just like aerobic exercises help improve the health of the heart, breathing exercises can make the lungs function more efficiently.
Pulmonologists — lung specialists — recommend breathing exercises for people with COPD and asthma because they help keep the lungs strong.
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