The Effects Of Exercise On Breathing |

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Exercise increases your breathing rate because your working muscles are demanding more oxygen, which they need to burn energy. As you exercise, your breathing accelerates so you can pull more air---and oxygen---into your lungs, where the oxygen is transferred to the blood and then delivered to your muscles. According to the American Council on Exercise, the rate of your breathing is a reliable measure of how hard you are exercising.

The Benefits of Hard Breathing

Exercise---in addition to decreasing your risk of stroke, heart disease, colon cancer, breast cancer and dementia---can also reduce breathlessness problems in patients with chronic lung disease. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, exercise does not improve lung function, but it strengthens limb muscles and thus minimizes shortness of breath and improves endurance.

Effects of Exercise on Asthma

Exercise in warm, moist environments. Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center say swimming is an excellent form of exercise for asthma sufferers. They also recommend yoga for its breathing and chest expansion exercises, which reduce stress and open airways. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma should warm up and cool down properly and avoid exercising in cold, dry air. Asthma patients should get a doctor's OK before starting an exercise program.

Using Breathing to Gauge Your Effort

Determine your effort level by how hard you are breathing. For moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, you should not be breathing so hard that you can't carry on a conversation, the American College of Sports Medicine says. For vigorous-intensity exercise, such as jogging, your will be breathing faster, but you should still be able to talk in short sentences.

Proper Breathing Pattern During Exercise

Bring in enough oxygen and expel all the carbon dioxide. Fitness expert Stew Smith, a former Navy SEAL, recommends runners use a 3:2 ratio when inhaling and exhaling during exercise. For instance, a runner would inhale for three steps and fully exhale during two steps to ensure his working muscles are getting enough oxygen. While lifting weights, always exhale during the exertion portion of the lift.

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