As we age, the physical functions of the elderly gradually decline, and the respiratory system is no exception. Many older people often experience shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, so they think that deep breathing can improve the problem. However, deep breathing is not good for the health of older people and may even increase the burden on their respiratory system.
Deep breathing enlarges the ribcage, causing more pressure on the lungs. For healthy young people, this stress can stimulate the exercise of the lung muscles and improve lung capacity. But for older people, their lungs have deteriorated, the number of alveoli has decreased, the elasticity of the lungs has decreased, and deep breathing can cause more damage to the lungs.
In addition, deep breathing allows more air to enter the lungs, increasing oxygen intake. However, the cardiopulmonary function of older people has declined, and they are not able to adapt to this change as quickly as younger people. Excessive oxygen intake can lead to too high a concentration of oxygen in the blood, which increases the burden on the heart.
For older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), deep breathing is even less advisable. In people with COPD, the lungs are already damaged, the alveolar elasticity is reduced, and deep breathing can cause the alveoli to rupture, aggravating the condition.
So, how should older people improve their breathing? In fact, proper shallow breathing is more beneficial to the health of the elderly. Shallow breathing allows a small amount of air to enter the lungs, reducing the burden on the heart. In addition, older adults can improve their lung capacity by exercising their respiratory muscles. For example, they can try games like playing the harmonica, blowing bubbles, etc., which can help them work their respiratory muscles.
In conclusion, while deep breathing can help improve lung capacity in some cases, for older adults, it can add to the burden on their respiratory system. Therefore, older adults should avoid excessive deep breathing and choose appropriate shallow breathing and respiratory muscle exercises to improve their respiratory health.
In daily life, the elderly should also pay attention to the following:
1.Avoid staying in an environment with poor air quality for long periods of time to avoid damage to your lungs.
2.Keep the indoor air moist and avoid the air being too dry to avoid irritation to the respiratory tract.
3.Stick to a moderate amount of exercise, such as walking, tai chi, etc., to enhance cardiopulmonary function.
4.Maintain an optimistic mindset and avoid the effects of mood swings on the respiratory system.
5.Regular check-ups for early detection and early detection of respiratory diseases.
In conclusion, the respiratory health of the elderly requires special attention and protection. They should avoid excessively deep breathing and choose appropriate shallow breathing and respiratory muscle exercises to improve their respiratory health. At the same time, paying attention to the details of daily life and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are also important measures to maintain respiratory health.