Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about the importance of diaphragmatic breathing. Breathing is essential to life, and we do it without thinking about it; however, many people have dysfunctional breathing mechanisms that predispose or perpetuate health problems. Dysfunctional breathing–breathing fast, shallow, and into one’s chest–develops over time and becomes a habit that is difficult to break. On the other hand, proper diaphragmatic breathing is slow and controlled and using the diaphragm to breathe into one’s belly. This helps to balance the autonomic nervous system and can play a role in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal system. It has been shown to improve the health of those with COPD, heart disease, asthma, cancer, and more. Check out the video for more in depth information on diaphragmatic breathing and its benefits for your health!
Hamasaki H. Effects of Diaphragmatic Breathing on Health: A Narrative Review. Medicines (Basel). 2020 Oct 15;7(10):65.
