Lung is one of the body's organs that functions as a means of human breathing. Its vital function makes us have to work hard to keep our lungs healthy. Healthy lungs make the body have a large amount of air storage capacity. With a large air storage capacity, the body is not easily tired or struggling. With breathing exercises the lungs can store more oxygen needed in the body.
What is breathing exercise like?
There are several breathing exercises to improve lung function, such as:
Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises
Diaphragmatic breathing exercises involve the diaphragm and the abdomen. In this diaphragmatic breathing, when air enters the stomach, the stomach will be filled so that the stomach expands, while the chest does not move much.
Following diaphragmatic breathing exercises, do this for at least 5 minutes a day.
- Sit comfortably while leaning back.
- Put one hand on the stomach and the other on the chest.
- Inhale through the nose for two seconds, and feel the air move to fill the stomach. Feel the stomach move full enlarged. The stomach must move more than the chest.
- Exhale for two seconds through the small open lips while feeling the stomach deflate.
- Repeat 10 times. Keep your shoulders relaxed during repetition, and keep your back straight while practicing diaphragmatic breathing.
Pursed-lips Breathing Exercise
To practice pursed-lips breathing, just breathe through your nose and exhale through your mouth for as long as possible with pursed lips.
- Here's how to do pursed-lips breathing:
- Inhale slowly through the nose, making sure the lips are closed.
- Exhale as quietly as possible through the small pursed or open lips. Exhale as slowly as possible, longer than when you inhale.
- Repeat again. You can do this breathing while standing or sitting.