Q. What are some breathing exercises that increases the lung capacity?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Increasing lung capacity can be beneficial in sports, the workplace and improving overall health. There are several simple exercises that you can do to increase your lung capacity.
The first exercise is called pursed lip breathing, which helps reduce shortness of breath. To do this exercise, you start by inhaling slowly through your nose for two seconds, then exhale slowly through pursed lips for four seconds. This elongates the exhalation phase to help relieve air trapping and breathlessness. Pursed lip breathing should be done 10-20 times throughout the day.
Another great way to increase lung capacity is with diaphragmatic breathing exercises (also known as belly breathing). To do this exercise you lie on your back with one hand on your chest and the other over your belly button area while placing a book or cushion on top of both hands as a marker. Start by taking slow deep breaths through your nose into the diaphragm region where you should feel it expand beneath each hand just like a balloon filling up with air until completely filled; then exhale out of both nostrils allowing all air to escape completely before repeating again 15-20 times per session twice daily split up during morning/evening hours if possible for best results over time!
Other helpful ways include doing regular cardio workouts such as jogging/running intervals, swimming or even brisk walking at least 3-4 days per week... While performing cardio activities try focusing on taking deeper breaths either from both nostrils or alternately from left side then right side repeating process every few minutes until completed! Also adding yoga poses that target back bends such as cobra pose , camel pose etc.. can help open up chest cavity helping more efficient oxygen uptake due its stretching properties allowing maximum oxygen exchange between lungs/body! By practicing these various breathing exercises regularly we can drastically improve our body's ability to take in more oxygen efficiently increasing our overall lung capacity overtime :]