Palm Springs, California
February 12, 2021
Summary
Certain exercises can help the lungs work more efficiently. This can reduce shortness of breath when a person’s lung capacity is limited.
The lungs allow for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which is essential for the body to function.
Age, smoking, pollution, and other factors can cause the lungs to work less efficiently. Certain health problems can restrict the lungs’ capacity, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
A person may not be able to change how much oxygen their lungs can hold. However, breathing exercises can help reduce shortness of breath caused by limited lung function.
This article looks at three exercises that can help reduce shortness of breath in people with chronic lung conditions or respiratory infections.
Pursed lip breathing
Breathing exercises can help improve a person’s lung capacity.
Pursed lip breathing can help keep the airways open for longer, facilitating the flow of air into and out of the lungs.
To do pursed lip breathing:
Sit up straight — good posture can help promote lung movement.
Breathe in deeply through the nose in a slow, controlled fashion.
Purse the lips — they should be almost touching, as when making a “kissing” face.
Breathe out through pursed lips — ideally, the exhalation should be twice as long as the inhalation was.
Some people find it especially beneficial to focus on time, for example by breathing in for 5 seconds and breathing out for 10 seconds. It can help to keep a clock that shows the seconds nearby.
For people who are not very physically active and may not be exercising their breathing muscles frequently, pursed lip breathing may have particular benefits.
Belly breathing
This exercise from the American Lung Association helps improve the rate at which the lungs expand and contract.
Belly breathing specifically focuses on strengthening the diaphragm muscle, which allows a person to take a deep breath.
To do the exercise:
Rest a hand or a lightweight object on the stomach.
Breathe in slowly through the nose, and note how far the stomach rises.
Breathe out through the mouth.
Breathe in through the nose, this time trying to get the stomach to rise higher than it did with the previous breath.
Exhale, and try to make each exhalation two or three times as long as each inhalation.
Periodically, roll the shoulders forward and backward and move the head from side to side to ensure that the exercise is not contributing to tension in the upper body.
To enhance lung function, practice belly breathing and pursed lip breathing for about 5–10 minutes every day.
Interval Training
If breathlessness or shortness of breath arise while exercising, interval training may be a better alternative to steady exercise.
Interval training involves alternating between short periods of more strenuous and less strenuous exercise. For example, a person could try walking at a very fast pace for 1 minute, then walking more slowly for 2 minutes, in a cycle.
Similarly, a person may perform a strength training activity for 1 minute, such as bicep curls or lunges, then walk at a gentle pace for 2–3 minutes.
Interval training gives the lungs time to recover before challenging them again.
Any time that exercise causes shortness of breath, it is a good idea to slow down for a few minutes. It can help to practice pursed lip breathing until the breathlessness subsides.