Breathing exercises

buffalo

Just wondering if anyone suffers the same as me, and might have come across a good solution.

I'm a former asthmatic, so always had problems with my breathing when I was young, but haven't had any ill-effects for the past ten-odd years. I've noticed when hitting the hills though, my legs are fine and work away, but I'm struggling to get air into my lungs fast enough.

Anyone else get the same thing, and can anybody recommend any particular remedies? I know swimming is supposed to be good for increasing lung capacity, due to the constant added pressure of the water, but I think my problem might lie more in my actual breathing technique.

baybike

Hi Buffalo,
No advice for you. But I suffer from the same thing, my breathing really lets me down on the hills. I know they say to breath in through your nose and out your mouth...but that just makes me dizzy!
Sh*te at breathing when swimming too, so it's definitely a technique problem.

I know you can get gadgets called powerlung'(?) that are meant to help improve your breathing but I don't know if your technique needs to be good first. Any advice would be great...

peterako

You may have to concentrate

I'm mildly asthmatic, but more importantly a natural track and field sprinter (in the 100m you can often run the race on ONE breath ).

I've gotten used breathing properly while on the bike, but at first I had to keep on reminding myself to:

'Breath from the Belly'

while on my bike!

We tend to unlearn how to breath properly as we grow up

Peter

Dr.Millah

OP maybe have a look into the Buteyko breathing method. I started doing it last christmas and have seen good results. Best of luck!

thebouldwhacker

One thing which certainly assists me (ex/parttime/recovering smooker) is when inhaling to make a relaxed O with your mouth this directs the O2 down your lungs like a jet instead of a wide mouth gasp which means your lungs have to pull air into your mouth and then into your lungs. I always helps me anyway and allows you to be much more aware of your breathing.:D

seamus

One thing which has stood to me from doing martial arts as a kid is a teaching that when your heart rate increases, you should aim to breathe deeper, not faster. Even if your legs are pumping 95 rpm, aim to control and regulate your breathing - long deep breaths, large exhalations - keep it under control.
It is a bit weird, a little like drumming - your body is physically moving at one pace, but you have to maintain a very different pace in your breathing.

Tawfee

baybike wrote: »

I know you can get gadgets called powerlung'(?) that are meant to help improve your breathing but I don't know if your technique needs to be good first. Any advice would be great...

Do you mean Powerbreathe: http://www.irishfit.eu/powerbreathe.htm

Got one of these in Argos a few weeks ago but haven't started using it properly yet. I've seen some good reviews online though, it's supposed to be like resistance training for your lungs.

Tawfee

buffalo wrote: »

I'm a former asthmatic, so always had problems with my breathing when I was young, but haven't had any ill-effects for the past ten-odd years.

Hi Buffalo,
You say that you're a former asthmatic, but it may just be that your asthma has returned (possibly in a different form to that you had when you were younger). I know I only developed asthma in my late twenties despite being a non-smoker & very physically active all my life. Perhaps you should organise with your GP/hospital to get asthma tests done. It may be that you just need a preventative inhaler to help you with the very strenuous exercise.