Everyone here in Singapore should know the importance of breathing properly. We ignore breathing because we think that the body will regulate it without us commandeering. We have to know that breathing properly can give us a lot of benefits like improved health, less anxiety and greater harmony. For sure we can enjoy the benefits of breathing properly if we practice proper breathing every day.
That sounds simple, right? We only need time to get used to it. However, not all people believe that breathing properly has its benefits. For these people, perhaps they should first know the consequences of not breathing properly before they appreciate the value of breathing properly. This article will discuss about the consequences of not breathing properly.
- Imbalanced nervous system: We have to remember that every breath has an effect on our nervous system. If we have dysfunctional breathing (short or forced one), we unknowingly distort the function of nervous system. This will eventually lead to tensed body and higher stress levels.
- Airways get tighter: If we notice that we are breathing faster than normal, there is a possibility that our airways got tighter. If we have tighter airways, the air will have difficulty coming and going to the lungs. When this happens, we compensate by breathing faster just to get the work done.
- Blood vessels stiffen: If there is not enough air, the blood vessels stiffen. If it stiffens, there is a possibility that it can lead to elevated blood pressure. The heart will work harder if this happens.
- Less energy: Cells need oxygen to develop. If we are breathing improperly, less oxygen will be delivered to the cells and in return, it will not prioritize development. It will prioritize survival and it will get stressed.
We have to know that the processes in our body are highly dependent on oxygen. This is the reason why we should seriously evaluate our breathing patterns. For example, the brain uses about 20% of the oxygen we inhaled and if there’s shortage, the brain will be sluggish. If it is sluggish, other functions in the body will be affected. Our heart also needs oxygen. The heart is active 24/7 and if there’s shortage, it cannot pump effectively which will result to bad circulation that can lead to cold feet and hands.
If we constantly exercise, the muscles need oxygen. Shortage will make the muscles stiff, tired and tensed. We have to understand the importance of proper breathing and share it with other Singaporeans so we can all live happy and healthy.
