Are you one of those people who often feel that the air is not enough? No matter how many deep breaths you take, you still have an unfulfilled feeling and a constant discomfort? While you intensify your effort in taking breaths, the worst you will feel. The reason you have this unfulfilled feeling is that your organization doesn’t satisfactorily benefit from the oxygen of the atmospheric air. And this is due to exactly what you do, take deep breaths!

As you inhale a large amount of air, this inhalation is followed by a big exhale. With the extra air you exhale, you drive away the carbon dioxide from your body. But when this valuable gas falls below its normal range (45-47mmHg), the organization’s oxygenation will be inadequate.

Next time you feel that the air is not enough, try three times holding your breath as following. After you exhale some air from the nose, try holding your breath for as many seconds you feel comfortable. Your first breath after this holding should be done through the nose and not through the mouth. Rest for a while and repeat for two or more times. This way you will achieve the increase of the carbon dioxide in blood and as a result you will have a better oxygenation in your body and you will feel it too!

Elena Papaioannou

Buteyko breathing specialist.