The COVID-19 virus brought a lot of changes in our once hassle-free lives, and with those changes came many risks to our health. Now, we have to see to it that our lungs are healthy, and that becomes mandatory with all the health measures already in place. Older adults need a lot more attention than younger ones, and with this scenario, we need to focus on how to make our loved one’s lungs healthy all the time.
The reason to focus on your older loved ones is the fact that lung capacity function starts to decrease when one ages. The secret is to start with some breathing exercises that can help with that. The following exercises are sure to provide the adequate oxygen supply needed by the body. Many retirement communities offer these simple exercises when promoting your loved one’s health and wellness.
Coordinated Breathing
Breathing becomes difficult once you hold it, and this is because of the fact that you can be anxious when you feel that you are short of breath. Coordinated breathing is effective in combatting this problem. This is just a simple breathing exercise that merely requires two steps. First, you must inhale through your nose. From there, you must purse your lips while breathing out.
Abdominal Breathing
The diaphragm is considered to have a crucial role to play in order for one to have effective breathing. Exercising this part of the body will definitely be important in making the muscle function efficiently. This lung strengthening exercise involves the following steps:
- Relax your shoulders while sitting or lying down. Put one of your hands on the chest, with the other on your stomach.
- Use your nose to breathe for two seconds. Make sure that the stomach moves outwards. That way, you can tell that you are doing the process correctly.
- Breathe out slowly while pursing the lips and pressing on your stomach gently.
- Repeat the process up to three times or more.
Pursed Lips Breathing
This exercise is beneficial in improving the oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange, which is crucial for better lung function. Beginners can simply do the exercise at home and it can be done any time of the day. Start by inhaling through the nostrils. Purse your lips such that you seem like you are blowing or pouting, then breathe slowly. Repeat the entire process several times. Make sure that the length with which you breathe is twice the length with which you inhaled.
Rib Stretch Breathing
This exercise best helps if you want to expand your ribs when you breathe. This will help your lungs take in the air it needs to function healthily. This is simple to do. Begin by standing straight with your hands placed on your hips. Slowly inhale until your lungs are filled then hold your breath for 20 seconds before breathing out slowly. You can repeat this up to six times or more.
Deep Breathing
This exercise helps a lot in preventing air from being trapped in your lungs so that you will not experience shortness of breath. You can do this while standing or sitting. Your elbows must be positioned at your back. Use your nose to inhale deeply then hold your breath for five seconds. Exhale through the nose and repeat the exercise throughout the day, at least a few times.
If you are moving a loved one into a retirement community, make sure that there are existing health programs that will keep not just their lungs healthy, but their entire body as well.
