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Naked Man with Stethoscope

Source: TongRo Images Inc. / Getty

Have you ever watched a newborn or toddler breath? The chest raises and the stomach expands in a natural pattern. This is known as diaphragmatic breathing. The diaphragm is a muscle that is located below the lungs and the major muscle in respiration along with the intercostal muscles. Intercostal muscles are attached to the rib cage and assist in breathing.  The diaphragm’s function is to pull air into the lungs.  During contraction the diaphragm expands the lungs and exhalation the diaphragm, chest and stomach flattens.  As we get older, busy with life, and everyday stressors as adults we forget how to breathe which is very deleterious to our health.

Shallow breathing (chest or thoracic breathing), keeps us in a constant state of fight or flight or in stress resopnse.  It”s a vicious cycle that makes stress a habit in our bodies and embeds in the mind. Shallow breathing lowers the amount of lymphocyte, a type of whit blood cell that aids in defending the body from foreign invaders that can cause serious harm. Shallow breathing makes the body susceptible to acute illnesses as well as aggravatiing pre-existing medical conditions like respiratory issues, cognitive function, anxiety, even diabetes.

Shallow beathing again is upper chest breathing which can increase youor anxiety and stress levels and can long lasting damaging  effects on the body and mind. Durinng shallow breathing the CO2 levels rises, causing serious harm. Think of it like sitting in your garage with the car running, the garage door is down and breathing in the carbon dioxide produce by the car. Would you not say that is detrimental to your health?

 

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