Respiratory infections can cause us to lose our ability to breathe normally. Because COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, many of those recovering from the virus will have to take time to regain their ability to breathe.
However, there are breathing techniques that you can practice today to help restore your breathing post-COVID.
Be careful not to overexert yourself and be mindful of when your body needs rest. If you experience any difficulty trying these breathing techniques, please pause and contact your healthcare provider.
Why Breathing Exercises Are Important
Breathing techniques are a simple way to improve your breathing. And, practicing these techniques once or twice a day for a short time can lead to great results. From stress relief to stronger lungs, breathing exercises are important for improving our mental and physical health.
When you’re first starting, be sure to take things slow. It will take some time for your body to be able to keep up with the exercises. Feeling a little dizzy is normal when you first begin, but don’t forget to listen to your body and rest as needed.
The important thing is to keep trying and aim to make these exercises a daily habit. Eventually, they will become easier as your breathing improves.
Sometimes, no matter how hard we try to exercise our breath, we can’t seem to get our breathing back to normal. So, visit Dr. Pasha to figure out what’s keeping you from breathing well.
The Diaphragmatic Breathing Technique
Diaphragmatic breathing, or belly breathing, is a deep breathing exercise people use to help alleviate stress and manage anxiety.
The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that’s located below the lungs. This muscle plays a vital role in our breathing.
When we practice diaphragmatic breathing, we engage the muscle and aim to reach the full capacity of our lungs.
Benefits of Diaphragmatic Breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing strengthens the diaphragm and can lower blood pressure as well as heart rate. It also helps increase stability in our core muscles while helping us feel relaxed.
After experiencing COVID, diaphragmatic breathing can encourage our lungs to function better.
If these breathing exercises don’t seem to help you recover your full breath, meet with Dr. Pasha to get to the root of the problem. Our quality of breath affects our quality of life. Find a solution with Dr. Pasha today.
How to Practice This Post-COVID Breathing Technique
When you first begin practicing diaphragm breathing, it’s important to ease yourself into the exercise. Start slowly by practicing in short sessions, and choose an easy position to begin. Increase repetitions and try new techniques as you feel your body getting stronger.
Here are the steps to follow:
First, try starting lying on your back. Bend your knees as if you were going to practice a sit-up. Then, move your hands to the top of your stomach.
Next, with your mouth shut and your tongue on the roof of your mouth, inhale through your nose. Try to bring air all the way down to your stomach so that it slowly rises, expanding your belly.
Now, slowly exhale through your nose.
If you haven’t done this exercise for a while, only practice for a few minutes at first (or less if you feel uncomfortable).
After a while, practice a different position like sitting upright in a chair or on the floor.
In this position, keep one hand on your chest while the other is on your stomach. Again, breathe in through your nose and pull air down to your stomach. Then, exhale through your nose. It can be helpful to watch your belly rise and fall with each inhale and exhale.
For this exercise, you can try “humming” on the exhale. This means that you’re trying to exhale slowly, which is key to improving your lung function and breathing.
You should feel the hand on your stomach rising and falling as you inhale and exhale.
Want to Figure Out What’s Keeping You From Breathing Well? Dr. Pasha Is On Standby
Sometimes, breathing exercises might not help us as much as we hope. If you’ve always had trouble breathing, and you’re not sure why, it’s time to meet with a sinus and allergy specialist like Dr. Pasha.
Dr. Pasha offers reliable solutions to help patients with their breathing specific to their unique needs.
From sleep apnea to chronic sinusitis, Dr. Pasha knows how to tackle whatever is keeping you from breathing well. We can help you find relief and improve your breathing for an overall healthier life.
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