We use breathing games to recondition a stress response from inhaling to an exhaling breathing pattern which increases parasympathetic activity of nervous system related to stress. Making exhalation longer:

• Slows down breathing
• Reduces heart rate
• Suppresses fight or flight responses
• Provides a general relief

It can help alleviate some of the symptoms of stress and anxiety related disorders such as:

• Social anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• helping kids cope with ADHD
• ADD

Contraindications

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.
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.

Side Effects

• Dehydration
• Dizziness

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 a short-term dizziness is possible therefore after exercise the patient should rest for a while.

Guidelines

PLB can be used as a 10-20 minutes daily systematic respiratory exercise to train breathing in complex with other rehabilitative activities.

Warnings

• Supply patients with extra drinking water
• Before and after use, clean headset with dry tissue
• Store the headset in a clean and dry environment

Did you know? Frequent or constant activity of the sympathetic tone imposes a lasting impact in the form of high blood pressure and disturbed digestion that may lead to stomach ulcers.

References