Breathing through abdomen

Hello Maryterese, I love doing Pursed Lip Breathing exercises, and do them regularly every day. They are also good for those difficult times when we have SOB episodes.

The precedure goes like this:

1. Find a chair to sit straight up in, with both feet on floor, and elbows resting on arm rests.

2. Tilt shoulders slightly forward or leaning forward in chair, but at slight angle.

3. With chin up and level, gently breath in air through nasal, for count of 3.

4. Keeping chin level and looking forward, make your lips like blowing a kiss or blo

wing out a candle, and exhale that air for a count of 6 (keeping body sitting straight,

but leaning chest area slightly forward.

5. Repeat over and over slowly. Great for relaxation and needed oxygen...also helps

calm down breathing when short of breath.

Notice: how you can feel your abdominals 'push up the diaphragm' when exhaling..only can be accomplished if slightly leaning forward while sitting in chair.

This can also be done if laying flat on back while in bed, with knees slightly bent, ha

nds laying flat on abdomen, while doing same as described above, Pursed Lip Brea

thing. You should be able to feel the diaphragm push up into the lungs in this style also.

I love this exercise, and it was one that the hospital nurse (assigned to me) taught me while I was hospitalized three different times. She spent many hours patiently coaching me when I could not breath, and was panicking. She told me to never forget this exercise, since it could help save my life...and prevent other things from happening..it does many things..and is also very calming! Remember, the nose can be powerful. I love it, and do this breathing at least once a day! I hope I could be of help for you..enjoy...hope you will love it as much as I do! :-)

as your lungs inhale the abdomen rises and on exhalation the abdo falls so yes it is very important in respiration.

Richard

Maryterese:  I also practice pursed lip breathing when I am walking.  It just becomes 2nd nature.  I feel it helps not only when you are sitting in a chair or lying down, but any time you feel short of breath.  Breathe in through the nose and hold for count of 3 and exhale with lips pursed to the count of 6.

Rather than the term abdominal breathing, the more usual term is Diaphramatic breathing. Lots of information on this on the Web.

Thanks to everyone for their help.  I will keep the pursed lip breathing in mind as a regular thing.

Hello Maryterese, 

I just had my first week of Pulmonology Rehab, and the therapist taught me how to do "Abdominal Breathing"  (or Diaphramatic breathing exercises). She mentioned to sit in a chair and do Pursed Lip Breathing and simply as we breath in through our nose, then we push out our stomach at the same time, and then when we exhale out the air through pursed lips, we pull in our stomach. She informed me to do these every day at least ten minutes. It is suppose to build up the Diaphram muscle if we do them, and cause Shortness of Breath to become less, whenever we have them. The reason is because during times of SOB, we are presently using all our upper muscles of our body, such as neck, shoulders, ribs, back, and more...all at one time in order to slow down the SOB. Not good, so when we build up the Diaphram muscle, it will be the only muscle doing the job, and will quickly calm down the SOB, and without the aid of all the other muscles. I have been doing those exercises, and they do seem to work..I love it, and will continue to do them! Not only do I have less period's of SOB, but when I do get them, they are less in intensity, and shorter lived. They get this idea from a newborn baby who uses their diaphram muscle all the time when they have SOB due to much crying spells. Also, if you wish to build up the Diaphram muscle more seriously, lay flat on your back on top of a bed with knee's slightly bent. Add a lite weight placed on top of your abdomen, and do the exercises. Start out using a very light weight, such as a can of food, and then next time, build up the weight, such as two cans, etc..on and on. Make sure you do not over do, but go to weight you can handle as tops...go at your own pace too. I plan to do these exercises when I can find time, but presently, I have been doing the 'pursed lip breathing exercises' plus also the 'abdominal breathing exercises too'...I love both..they are very similar, but I really felt good after using the abdominal one! My therapist informed me that I only have to use the one that is in sitting position for SOB, but I would love to try the weight one that builds up the muscle more. I plan to do so sometime when I can. I am also hoping that the abdominal one can help firm up my tummy too...lol! I hope I have helped!