Intentional breathing has been shown by experts to help a multitude of body functions, including mental and physical responses to stress.
Practicing intentional breathing may be inhibited by health conditions, such as sinusitis, which can in turn be attributed to various other health issues like elevated stress and lack of sleep, without most people even realizing it.
"Sinusitis can impact quality of life in many ways. It can impact life from a sleep standpoint. If you are not breathing well, you are not sleeping well; if you are not sleeping well, you are not able to perform daily tasks to your best potential," Diana Ruiloba, physician assistant at Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, told Coconino News.
Quicker breathing actually activates multiple areas of the brain, arousing many types of emotional responses, including fear, jealousy and anger, according to Harvard Medical School. For those who suffer from sinusitis, the ability to breathe slower, especially through the nose, which is best practice for intentional breathing, are not able to do so easily and may suffer from other health ailments because of this.
Intentional breathing is used by emergency medical technicians when trying to calm someone down, by therapists to help hypnotize patients and by those who practice meditation and yoga because of the relaxing effects it has the body as a whole.
According to Harvard Medical School, intentional breathing can help reduce stress. Prolonged stress can cause immune system suppression, resulting in colds and higher blood pressure, and can create anxiety and depression. It can also help regulate the nervous system and focus one's attention, says Greater Good Magazine.
Some easy steps to practice intentional breathing include finding a quiet place, beginning with a normal breath, then moving to slowly breathe through your nose as deeply as you can, and exhaling through the mouth. Focus on this type of breathing for 10 to 20 minutes each day to help breathe more freely and reduce stress.
If you believe you are suffering from sinusitis or chronic sinusitis, take the Arizona Breathe Free's quiz to see which issues you may be suffering from.
