Healthy Living

Deep Breathing And The Release Of Pain

Browse » Getting Healthy » Pain Relief and Management » Deep Breathing And The Release Of Pain
So many health problems result from stress and stress can be relieved in an easy and inexpensive manner, which is to say by way of deep breathing techniques. There are...


So many health problems result from stress and stress can be relieved in an easy and inexpensive manner, which is to say by way of deep breathing techniques. There are two kinds of breathing, which is chest breathing and diaphragm breathing. The diaphragm is a muscle that is located in the lower abdominal area and is instrumental in helping to relieve stress through proper breathing methods. Most individuals are taught to breath from their chests but this then causes irregular and shallow breathing that is slow and causes carbon dioxide to leave the lungs too swiftly, which can then create more tension in both the body and the mind. Diaphragm breathing is healthier and more beneficial to the body. When it comes to diaphragm breathing, breathing is even and consistent and more breaths are taken in and can be breathed deeper and more fully into the lungs.

Deep breathing does not just involve the lungs but also the lower ribcage, the back and the stomach. Diaphragm breathing creates a response from the nervous system that is called the "relaxation response" because it makes it possible for the body to be soothed, calmed and relaxed and allows for a sense of peace and well being which is akin to mediation. Life begins with diaphragm breathing as evidenced by the way babies and young children breath. These little tykes breathe from deep down in their diaphragms and they make sure to use the complete ability of their lungs. When you see a baby's stomach rise when he or she is sleeping it is because the breathing is coming from deep down in the body. This is how nature intended it to be but as we age we tend to become more stressed and this affects how we breathe. Breathing becomes more controlled and restrained and often we do not even realize that we are not breathing as completely as we should be.

The benefits of deep breathing are tremendous and are worth becoming aware of. It is very therapeutic in nature. Deep breathing allows for the supply of oxygen to all organs of the body to be increased and indeed doubled, which makes everything work to its greatest capacity. This allows for a more restful night of slumber, which can do anybody good. Deep breathing exercises are excellent to do after a stressful day to calm you and get you ready to retire for the night. Endorphins are the body's answer to painkillers in their natural form, and deep breathing makes it possible for endorphins to be released from the brain. Endorphins, which are very closely related to the drug morphine, decrease pain in the body by blocking the pain signals that are sent out from the central nervous system.

Studies have shown that arthritis sufferers, and particularly those who are over the age of 65 and suffer from a multitude of health problems can benefit from deep breathing exercises for many reasons but in particular due to the release of endorphins for pain control. Deep breathing is a very simple and easy way to improve the condition of an individual's and it takes only a short period of time to learn. Deep breathing promotes improved health in a way that shallow breathing does not. More oxygen is able to circulate in the body when deeper breathing takes place, which is an undervalued benefit of good health.

Recommended Reading

  1. Breathing Exercises For Fitness And Weight Loss
  2. As long as you breathe, you live. No breath, no life. Breathing takes place automatically, but it can also be...
  3. Taoist Breathing
  4. Let us first examine what happens in linear breathing, that is, natural breathing, which is involuntary. As you inhale and...
  5. Deep Tissue Massage
  6. Deep tissue massage is a type of massage that involves the deeper tissue structures of the connective tissues and muscles....
  7. Deep Tissue Massage Therapy
  8. One form of Massage Therapy is deep tissue massage. This is also referred to as sports massage at times. This...
  9. Ear Pain What You Can Do At Home To Relieve The Pain Fast
  10. Ear pain can cause major discomfort to babies, kids and adults. It is especially painful and disturbing when it happens...

Leave a Feedback

Fields marked by an asterisk (*) are required.

All material on this website is provided for your information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction.
No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; instead, readers
should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being.