The Art and Science of Healthy Breathing
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The Art and Science of Healthy Breathing
Resonant breathing integrates the respiratory system with the other systems of the body. Notably, this natural way of breathing synchronizes the breath with the beating of the heart. In his book, The Oxygen Advantage, Patrick McKeown describes healthy breathing as: abdominal, slow, gentle, calm, regular, relatively unnoticeable, silent, and through the nose. Bringing the breath into the diaphragm, he explains, assists the lymph system in carrying away waste (McKeown, 2015, p. 73). Many natural health practitioners draw on the work of Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko, M.D. (1923-2003). Buteyko is world renowned for the breathing techniques he developed and taught his patients to apply which restored their health (Ref., https://buteykoclinic.com). James Nestor, in his book, Breath, illuminates ancient and contemporary breathing practices, including yoga traditions, that increase longevity. Nestor offers that the ideal rhythm for breathing is inhaling for 5.5 seconds and exhaling for 5.5 seconds (Nestor, 2020, p. 212).
Breathing through our nose is central to our well-being. When we inhale, our nose slows down the airstream, warms and humidifies the incoming air, removes pathogenic bacteria, and furnishes a reservoir of nitric oxide to maintain good health (McKeown, 2015, p. 56 – 57). The carbon dioxide in our body releases oxygen from red blood cells into our organs and tissues. First documented by Christian Bohr in 1904, this crucial role of carbon dioxide is known as the Bohr Effect. More carbon dioxide in the bloodstream means more efficient delivery of oxygen to where it is needed in the body. Nasal breathing facilitates this important function. Focusing his expertise on helping people overcome mouth breathing, McKeown states that many of us have forgotten our innate way of breathing (McKeown, 2015, p. 2).
Mouth breathing results from poor diets, environmental toxicity, overheated homes, and lack of fitness and leads to carbon dioxide deficiency, poor oxygenation, a weakened respiratory system, and mental and physical ailments. Fortunately, nasal breathing can be adopted anytime. It increases carbon dioxide levels, brings oxygen to the cells more efficiently, and enhances the capacity for aerobic exercise. Nasal breathing involves the inhalation of a smaller volume of air and provides more time between breaths. This gives the lungs a chance to hold onto the carbon dioxide and deliver more oxygen to the cells before the next breath. Nasal breathing lowers blood pressure and heart rate, increases blood flow to the brain and the rest of the body, and builds muscle tone and endurance (Somnifix, 2022).
Resonant breathing integrates the respiratory system with the other systems of the body. Notably, this natural way of breathing synchronizes the breath with the beating of the heart. In his book, The Oxygen Advantage, Patrick McKeown describes healthy breathing as: abdominal, slow, gentle, calm, regular, relatively unnoticeable, silent, and through the nose. Bringing the breath into the diaphragm, he explains, assists the lymph system in carrying away waste (McKeown, 2015, p. 73). Many natural health practitioners draw on the work of Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko, M.D. (1923-2003). Buteyko is world renowned for the breathing techniques he developed and taught his patients to apply which restored their health (Ref., https://buteykoclinic.com). James Nestor, in his book, Breath, illuminates ancient and contemporary breathing practices, including yoga traditions, that increase longevity. Nestor offers that the ideal rhythm for breathing is inhaling for 5.5 seconds and exhaling for 5.5 seconds (Nestor, 2020, p. 212).
Breathing through our nose is central to our well-being. When we inhale, our nose slows down the airstream, warms and humidifies the incoming air, removes pathogenic bacteria, and furnishes a reservoir of nitric oxide to maintain good health (McKeown, 2015, p. 56 – 57). The carbon dioxide in our body releases oxygen from red blood cells into our organs and tissues. First documented by Christian Bohr in 1904, this crucial role of carbon dioxide is known as the Bohr Effect. More carbon dioxide in the bloodstream means more efficient delivery of oxygen to where it is needed in the body. Nasal breathing facilitates this important function. Focusing his expertise on helping people overcome mouth breathing, McKeown states that many of us have forgotten our innate way of breathing (McKeown, 2015, p. 2).
Mouth breathing results from poor diets, environmental toxicity, overheated homes, and lack of fitness and leads to carbon dioxide deficiency, poor oxygenation, a weakened respiratory system, and mental and physical ailments. Fortunately, nasal breathing can be adopted anytime. It increases carbon dioxide levels, brings oxygen to the cells more efficiently, and enhances the capacity for aerobic exercise. Nasal breathing involves the inhalation of a smaller volume of air and provides more time between breaths. This gives the lungs a chance to hold onto the carbon dioxide and deliver more oxygen to the cells before the next breath. Nasal breathing lowers blood pressure and heart rate, increases blood flow to the brain and the rest of the body, and builds muscle tone and endurance (Somnifix, 2022).
References
McKeown, P. (2015). The Oxygen Advantage. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
Nestor, J. (2020). Breath. New York, NY: Riverhead Books.
Somnifix. (2022). The Bohr effect: the key to unlocking new levels of physical endurance (blog). Retrieved from: https://somnifix.com/blogs/snews/bohr-effect-and-fitness.
McKeown, P. (2015). The Oxygen Advantage. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
Nestor, J. (2020). Breath. New York, NY: Riverhead Books.
Somnifix. (2022). The Bohr effect: the key to unlocking new levels of physical endurance (blog). Retrieved from: https://somnifix.com/blogs/snews/bohr-effect-and-fitness.
Amy Wing, Holistic Health Educator,
Nature’s Hearth
Website: www.naturesheart.net
Email: ajw.habitat@gmail.com
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