When it comes to your body’s health, breathing properly is a priority. Trouble breathing can have many unwanted effects such as fatigue, restlessness, headaches and more. In this blog, we provide you with conditions and issues that can cause breathing difficulties along with ways breathing can be made easier.
Why Can Breathing Become More Difficult?
For many people, breathing normally is a breeze and not something they have to think about. For others, especially those with respiratory problems, it may be more difficult. Below are some examples of lung conditions and other issues that make breathing more challenging.
- Pneumonia
- COPD
- Asthma
- Sleep Apnea
- Allergies
- Coronavirus
- Heart Issues
- Obesity
- Emphysema
How Can I Breathe Easier?
Whether you have a lung condition causing your shortness of breath or are unsure what the reason is, there are ways to make breathing easier.
1. Correct Your Posture
When you sit or stand up straight, your chest, ribcage and diaphragm can fully expand. Having good posture can make breathing more effective while at rest or during physical activity. If you’re slouched over, your diaphragm isn’t fully activated which could cause a sense of constant fatigue during daily activities.
2. Stretch It Out
As previously mentioned, breathing is easiest when your ribcage is fully expanded. To maximize your breathing potential, try some stretches to improve your posture and focus on loosening up any areas of tightness. Get started by trying out these stretches!
3. Switch Up Your Sleeping Position
Especially for those with sleep apnea, breathing may be most difficult when it’s time for bed. Rather than sleeping on your back, try sleeping on your side and elevating your head with a couple of pillows. For even better spine alignment, put a pillow between your legs. This position helps to keep your airways open to avoid snoring so you can get the oxygen your body needs while you rest.
4. Try Breathing Exercises (Great for Coronavirus Recovery!)
Doing breathing exercises can strengthen your muscles and make your lungs more efficient. This isn’t only important for individuals with lung conditions – breathing exercises can be beneficial for everyone. If you’re recovering from Coronavirus or are simply looking for a way to strengthen your respiratory system and increase your lung capacity, check out these exercises.
5. Live a Healthier Lifestyle
You’d be surprised how much easier breathing becomes when you make some positive lifestyle changes. The typical health tips you know about such as eating well and maintaining a healthy weight can be a huge help to your respiratory system. One of the most obvious lifestyle changes is to avoid smoking as it has long-term and extremely harmful effects on your breathing.
Breathing should be smooth, easy and quiet. If you’re having trouble breathing and are unsure of the cause, your doctor may prescribe a pulmonary function test to find the cause. At Advanced Respiratory Care Network, we are happy to offer respiratory consultations to get to the bottom of your breathing issues. Learn more about our services and book a consultation with us today to get started!