We Breathe to Live

Mahatma Ghandi survived around 21 days without food. The average adult can survive roughly 7 days without water. Air on the other hand, is so important to life; we can survive without it for only minutes.

Breathing properly is a skill we just assume we have. However, our environment highly impacts our breathing patterns. Some examples of dysfunctional breathing patterns are chest breathing, breathing through your mouth, hyperventilating, and holding your breath. Breathing in these ways can put various physiological stresses on the body such as inadequate blood oxygen levels and dysregulated blood pH. These stressors activate the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to the secretion of various stress hormones – cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine. Being in a constant state of stress can be detrimental to health and can lead to issues such as anxiety, fatigue, depression, weight gain and decreased performance.

Timely and balanced respiration is how the human body regulates blood pH. During an inhalation, oxygen (O2) is brought into the lungs. During an exhalation, carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed from the body. When a breath is taken, the muscle below the ribcage, called the diaphragm, allows the lungs to expand by contracting and moving downward. As the lungs expand, air is brought into the body through the nose and travels into the lungs where it passes into the blood stream. Simultaneously, CO2 travels out of the blood stream and into the lungs to be expelled from the body through exhalation. An increase in respiratory rate (over-breathing) leads to excessive removal of CO2, which is an acid. This can result in blood pH alkalinity, which can lead to muscle cramping, twitching, and strong cravings for acidic processed foods.

Every single biological process in the human body relies on oxygen. Effective breathing will not only provide you with a greater sense of mental clarity, it will also help you sleep better, boost your body’s immune system, improve digestion and reduce stress levels. Practicing proper breathing techniques and mastering diaphragmatic control will promote more life and vitality.