MECHANISM OF BREATH:-

• NORMAL RESPIRATORY RATE 12-20 bpm Average lung capacity is 6 liters

Breathing or respiration, is of 2 types –

           1-External respiration

           2-Cellular respiration

 External respiration: –

• It is inhaling and exhaling gases between the body and the environment.
• Inhalation
• Diaphragm and external intercostal muscle = contract
• -The diaphragm moves downward, and the external intercostal muscle pulls the ribs up and outward; this increases the volume of the thoracic cavity and further helps to reduce the air pressure in the lung compared to the atmosphere.
• Airflow from the region of high pressure to an area of low pressure
• Exhalation diaphragm and external intercostal muscle = relaxation
• Restore the thoracic cavity to its original volume.
• This will force the air (CO2) out of the lungs and into the atmosphere.

 Cellular respiration: –

• The chemical process takes place inside the body cell.
• we inhale oxygen into the lungs
• From the lung capillaries, O2 is carried by the blood to every cell, where it helps to break down glucose and generate energy.
• The waste product, CO2, is carried back to the lungs and breathed out.
• In a healthy individual with no lung damage, the diaphragm does 80% of the work, fills the lung with the maximum amount of oxygen and other gases, and sends the waste gases out of the body.

EFFECT OF AIR POLLUTION TO THE LUNGS: –

• Studies even say inhaling polluted air may be equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes every day! deep breathing exercises can be done to increase lung capacity.
• Air pollutant has a great effect on the pulmonary system, as the lungs are directly exposed to the contaminant in the air.
• Ambient air pollution particularly long–term exposure to particle matter with a diameter <2.5 micrograms has been reported to be associated with lung cancer even at low concentrations.
• Air pollutants can lead to an increased risk of COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and COVID-19 transmission.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 12.6 million deaths are attributable to environmental factors.

BREATHING EXERCISE: –

 Pursed lip breathing-

• Inhale through the nose.
• Purse the lips as if blowing on something.
• Exhale the breath through the mouth for at least twice as long as the inhale.

BENEFIT-

• Slowing down the breath.
• Making it easier to breathe.
• Reducing the work that other muscles in the body are doing to breathe.
• Increasing a person’s ability to carry out their usual activities or exercise.
• Getting rid of stale air from the lungs.

Diaphragmatic breathing or belly breathing

• Sit or lie down on a comfortable, flat surface.
• Relax your shoulders, shifting them downward away from the ears.
• Put a hand on your chest and a hand on your stomach.
• Without straining or pushing, breathe in through your nose until you can’t take in any more air.
• Feel the air moving through your nostrils into your abdomen, expanding your stomach and sides of the waist. Your chest remains relatively still.
• Purse your lips as if sipping through a straw. Exhale slowly through your lips for 4 seconds and feel your stomach gently contracting.

EFFECT OF BREATHING EXERCISE ON LUNG HEALTH: –

Detoxification: Breathing exercises aid in detoxification and provide energy. More air can flow in and out of your lungs, so you can be more physically active.

Increase oxygen levels:  Breathing exercises can help rid the lungs of accumulated stale air, increase oxygen levels, and get the diaphragm to return to its job. When you have healthy lungs, breathing is natural and easy.

Improve lung capacity: Breathing exercises can potentially help maintain or increase lung capacity in those without underlying lung conditions.

Lead to relaxation:

• Deep breathing exercises can also stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation and aids in digestion.
• Improve diaphragm strength
• Remove mucous from the lungs
• Keep the lungs and chest wall supple
• Increased oxygen levels
• Reduce the number of breaths and keep the airways open longer.
• Allow to open up the airway for a longer duration.
• The American Lung Association recommends performing breathing exercises daily for 5-10 min.