Lung capacity shows how much air your lungs can hold. Performing breathing exercises can improve your lung capacity over time.
Your lung capacity is the total amount of air your lungs can hold. Our lung capacity and lung function typically start to decrease slowly, approximately after the age of 35 years.
Some conditions, such as asthma, can significantly speed up the loss of lung capacity and function. This leads to difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath.
Exercises exist that can help maintain lung capacity, making it easier to keep your lungs healthy and get your body the oxygen it needs.
1. Diaphragmatic breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing, or “belly breathing,” engages the diaphragm, which is supposed to do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to breathing.
This technique is particularly helpful in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). With this condition, the diaphragm isn’t as effective and could be strengthened. The technique is best to use when you are feeling rested.
If you have COPD, ask a doctor or respiratory therapist to show you how to use this exercise for the best results. Keep in mind that while breathing exercises may improve COPD symptoms over time, there’s no scientific evidence they can reverse the condition.
According to the COPD Foundation, you should do the following to practice diaphragmatic breathing:
- Relax your shoulders and sit back or lie down.
- Place one hand on your belly and one on your chest.
- Inhale through your nose for 2 seconds, feeling the air move into your abdomen and feeling your stomach move out. Your stomach should move more than your chest does.
- Breathe out for 2 seconds through pursed lips while pressing on your abdomen.
- Repeat.