As you read these words,you breathe.You do not realise but the breathing graph fluctuates according to what you read.Not just now, throughout the day and throughout your life,without you knowing it,your respiration pattern changes constantly depending on the situations face,sights perceived,information imbibed and thoughts churned.Unless you consciously make an attempt to control the way you breathe you can land up in trouble.There are ways in which people can restrict their breathing.

TERSE REVERSE :

In 'reverse breathing', the abdomen moves in on inhalation and out on exhalation-the opposite of what ought to happen! This kind of breathing often arises from the habit of wearing restrictive clothing or tight belts,which makes it impossible for the abdomen to expand during any breathing phase.

Since reverse breathing causes confusion in the diaphragm,it also results in mental disorientation.Hence, chronic tension in your upper body,especially around the back of the neck,upper shoulder,upper back,and jaw area.

CHEST TEST :

'Chest breathing' is probably the most common breathing pattern in today's stress-filled life.It's a natural reflex when suddenly startled or frightened.You gasp,pull the abdomen in the breathe high into the chest.The diaphragm is prevented from descending completely as you inhale.Chest breathers restrict breath movement in the abdomen,forcing it higher up into the chest,while soulders move up and down.They develop chronic tension in thoracic spine,shoulders and neck.This tension is resistant to massage or any other relaxation therapy as it recapitulates the moment the person resumes chest breathing,which is an incredible 22,000 times a day! And when they don't breathe in fully, they don't breathe out fully either.So they breathe quicker to make up for lack of oxygen.Scarier still is the fact that it sets the stage for a more serious breathing problem;hyperventilation.Thye often experience a chronic,free-floating state of anxiety.Scientific evidence now points to the connection between chest breathing,heart disease and high blood pressure.

VENTING STINT :

Hyperventilation develops out of chest breathing.It is more restrictive.When the diaphragm can't descend completely during inhalation,it reduces space in the chest,limiting lung capacity.So less oxygen is taken in with each breath and you tend to breathe quicker than normal.
Hyperventilation makes you lose too much carbon dioxide from the body,the most crucial ingredient in helping maintain an acid-alkaline balance of the blood (about pH 7.40), with the result that the metabolism shifts from acid to alkaline.It restricts brain arteries and makes nerves and muscles hyperactive,leads to headache,lakc of concentration,dizziness,breathlessness,cold hands and feet and inappropriate responses.

Learn more about this author, Pinaki Goswami.
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