How to Be Healthy

  This next suggestion at first may seem a bit obvious.  After all, everyone needs air in order to survive.  However there is a major difference between breathing properly and just breathing.  Ask any singer.  Did you know that if we were able to spread out the surface area of our lungs, they would cover a football field?  Despite the huge surface area, the vast majority of most people only use one-third of their lung capacity.  Most of us are shallow breathers, using only the top one-third to one-half of our lungs.  Remember that every cell in our body needs oxygen in order to survive and be able to create energy.  Our bodies can last for sixty days without food, three days without water but only four minutes without air before causing irreparable damage to the brain.    Deep breathing exercises may be the most effective method of treating anxiety.  By deliberately slowing and deepening your breathing you can prevent hyperventilation which is one of the primary symptoms of anxiety.  Hyperventilation simply is breathing more than the body needs. It creates a reduction of carbon dioxide in the blood and can result in intense physical symptoms that are very similar to panic attacks. 

Children practice diaphragmatic breathing naturally; it is only as we grow up that we forget this most important and natural function. If you looked at a babies breathing pattern, you would notice that the baby’s chest barely moves and that the abdomen and stomach area expands. This is the sign of proper diaphragmatic breathing.  The most effective gas exchange occurs in the lower part of the lungs which can only be utilized while practicing diaphragmatic breathing.  When we only breathe with the top third of our lungs, we decrease the oxygenation of our tissues.  In an effort to increase oxygenation of cells, the heart is then forced to pump more blood to the lungs which in turn increases our blood pressure.  By simply breathing deeper, thereby utilizing more lung surface for oxygen exchange, more oxygen gets to the brain and organs with the result that the heart doesn’t have to work as hard and blood pressure is reduced.

  Deep breathing is a natural tension reducer and helps to increase the release of endorphins, our natural pain killers which can be helpful in treating headaches and backaches.

Healthy air, clean air is becoming a rare commodity.  In most large capitals in most countries, air quality has become a major issue.  In cities such as Tokyo, Mexico and Los Angeles, there are days when anyone with any sort of lung weakness or condition should not venture outside.  In other words, the air itself has become the enemy and an attacker of health.  Did you know that in Tokyo there are stations on many street corners that contain an oxygen mask and tank?  Simply put a specified sum of money into the slot and you can have a breath of fresh air.  What a sad commentary on modern life.  Once again the old saying is true, “You’ll never know you’ll miss it till it’s gone.”