MyChart
Lung Problems: Learning to Breathe Easier
How do you use these breathing methods?
Pursed-lip breathing
Pursed-lip breathing helps you breathe more air out so that your next breath can be deeper. It makes you less short of breath and lets you be more active.
Practice this breathing method for about 10 minutes at a time, 3 or 4 times a day.
- Bend forward slightly at the waist. Keep your back straight.
Breathing while bending forward at the waist may make it easier for you to breathe.
You can sit or stand to use this breathing method. If you are standing, you may want to rest your hands on the edge of a table or the back of a chair.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose, with your mouth closed.
Breathe in for about 2 seconds.
- Pucker your lips like you would to blow out a candle. Then breathe out slowly through your lips.
Breathe out for 4 to 6 seconds.
As you get more comfortable doing this breathing exercise, you can also do it to feel better when you are short of breath.
Belly breathing
Breathing with your diaphragm helps your lungs expand so that they take in more air. Your diaphragm is the large muscle that separates your lungs from your belly. It helps draw air into your lungs as you breathe.
This method may be called diaphragmatic breathing (belly breathing).
Practice this breathing method for about 10 minutes at a time, 3 or 4 times a day. As you get more comfortable doing this breathing exercise, you can also do it to feel better when you are short of breath.
- Lie on your back, or prop yourself up on several pillows.
- Put one hand on your belly and the other on your chest.
- When you breathe in, push your belly out as far as possible.
You should feel the hand on your belly move out, while the hand on your chest does not move.
- When you breathe out, you should feel the hand on your belly move in.
When you can do this type of breathing well while lying down, learn to do it while sitting or standing.
Current as of: March 9, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Ken Y. Yoneda MD - Pulmonology
