Breathing exercises are one of the methods that can be used to lose weight and help recruit the muscle groups used in efficient exhalation. Combining this with electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) will further muscle recruitment in your abdominal region, including dormant muscles. The EMS, through neuromodulation of the abdominal muscles during exhalation, only leads to:
- Greater contractile strength of the abdominal muscles leads to more toning and aids in belly fat loss.
- More efficient exhalation
- Expel more CO2 from the lungs.
- More efficient ventilation and gas exchange
- Decrease fatigue
- Improve nutrient delivery to your body.
- have more efficient (cellular) metabolism
- Allow yourself to inhale more and increase your supply of oxygen.
- Achieve higher fat burning, aided by the extra supply of oxygen.
Additionally, pursed lip breathing is used in conjunction with the effective weight loss and core building breathing exercise known as the Long Breath Diet from Japan.
Contraindications
Diabetes
If you suffer from diabetes and use insulin or other blood glucose-lowering medication, the pursed lip breathing exercise can increase your sensitivity to medication. This can make your blood glucose level lower than usual. You may suffer then from hypoglycemic shock, which is much more dangerous than high blood sugar. You should have a small snack immediately after the breathing session.
Depression
Breathing with longer exhalations triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, the rest-and-digest response. If you suffer from depression, this can further aggravate it as you tend to predominantly activate your parasympathetic; Putting the body in a state of relaxation but increasing a lack of motivation.
Severe Personality Disorders
Personality disorders, psychopathic disorders, severe forms of depression, mania, obsessive-compulsive disorder and delirium. In these disorders the patient is more likely to interpret a breathing exercise in the context of his/her personality disorder in which the therapist no longer has sufficient control over the therapy's effect.
Psychoactive Substances
Opioids, benzodiazepines and caffeine may decrease the effectiveness of therapy.
Heart Conditions
If you have any heart conditions or have an implanted pacemaker, you are especially susceptible to abnormal heart rhythms from the EMS.
Skin Conditions
Electrode pads should not be applied on areas of irritated or broken skin, as the current flows through the breaks in the skin and causes discomfort.
Pregnancy
Use of electrical stimulation should be avoided over certain areas during pregnancy, including the abdomen, primarily because of the risk of unwanted uterine contractions. The effects of electrical current on a developing fetus are uncertain.
Side Effects
- Dehydration
- Dizziness
- Skin Irritation
Practicing pursed-lip breathing expels air that was previously trapped in the lungs. This air is saturated with water and CO2, resulting in dehydration. Thus, the patient is required to drink some water after the exercise.
In elderly patients, short-term dizziness is possible; therefore, after exercise, the patient should rest for a while.
In regards to the use of electrical muscle stimulation, skin irritation can occur due to a reaction to the current or the electrode adhesive. Cleaning and drying the abdominal area before use helps lower the likelihood of that occurring considerably.
Guidelines
The exercise should be carried out at least twice daily in a set of 6. Breathing in through the nose (e.g., for 3 seconds) and then breathing out through the tightened lips for longer (e.g., for 7 seconds). Actively try to increase the amount you exhale during the day. Exercise can be carried out while standing up straight. When using the electrical muscle stimulator, it should be used on patients at 5- to 10-minute intervals at an appropriate voltage that does not cause discomfort.
Warnings
- Ensure you have sufficient drinking water.
- Store the headset in a clean and dry environment.
- Before and after use, clean the headset with dry tissue.
- Before using the EMS or TENS, ensure all the knobs on the device are turned off to prevent electric shock.
- Ensure the electrode patches are at least 1 inch apart and firmly on the skin.
- Replace adhesive pads if they no longer attach to the skin properly.
- Wipe down EMS before use to make sure that it is both clean and without any traces of water.
Did you know? With exhalation, you activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which restores the state of "rest and digest" in the body. Inhalation does the opposite; it speeds up the pulse of the heart and establishes the state of "fight or flight" in the body.
References
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Recommendations
"Keep using the pursed-lip breathing until the breathless feeling goes away. Rest In between breaths if you feel Dizzy. Give sips of room temperature water."
American Lung Association
“Pursed-lip breathing attempts to prolong active expiration through half-opened lips, thus helping to prevent airway collapse. Compared with spontaneous breathing, pursed-lip breathing reduces respiratory rate, dyspnea, and PaCO2, while improving tidal volume and oxygen saturation in resting conditions."
American Thoracic Society
"Pursed lip breathing is one of the simplest ways to control shortness of breath. It provides a quick and easy way to slow your pace of breathing, making each breath more effective."
Cleveland Clinic
“Inhaling through the nose and exhaling through pursed lips makes breathing easier. Pursed-lip breathing can also help you regain control if you’re having trouble catching your breath. You can practice breathing this way anytime, anywhere. If you’re watching TV, practice during the commercials. Try to practice several times a day. Over time, pursed-lip breathing will feel natural.”
University of Minnesota Medical Center
“Pursed lip breathing helps you use less energy to breathe. It can help you relax. When you are short of breath, it helps you slow the pace of your breathing and can help you feel less short of breath."
University of Iowa Children's Hospital