It’s important to note that breathing exercises are a complementary therapy, says Dr. Lin. “Deep breathing should not replace any of the other medicines or interventions that your doctor recommends,” she says. Put differently, deep breathing is not an alternative therapy. There’s a lot to recommend deep breathing as a complementary therapy, says Baxter Bell, MD, a former family doctor who now teaches yoga and practices medical acupuncture. “There really aren’t any side effects, and breath exercises can be accessed any time of the day. It’s very empowering to be able to use breathing to help reduce stress and improve focus,” he says. “When you engage in deep breathing, your abdomen is soft as you engage your diaphragm and take a deep breath in with the intention of really filling up the whole lung with air,” Lin adds. “You’re slowing down the heart rate, reducing your blood pressure, and relaxing your muscles.” As with exercise or meditation, deep breathing will be most beneficial if you treat it as a daily practice, says Lin. “It can help in the moment — I’ve had patients who were anxious lower [their] blood pressure and heart rate significantly with just a minute of deep breathing. However, you will have the most benefit if you practice regularly,” she says. This will help your body will recognize what you are doing and be more responsive,” she adds. Ready to take a deep breath and jump in? Research shows deep breathing can offer benefits for several health conditions. Here are some examples. To get lasting health benefits, including those for blood pressure, consistency and regular practice is key, says Lin.
By doing mindful breath exercises, they can start to rebalance their breath system, which can lead to improvements in the way a person feels and thinks, he says. “The more stressed we become, the harder it can be for us to think clearly,” he says.
Lin agrees that deep breathing may help with these symptoms because tension can interfere with good digestion.
