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We Should All Try to Slow Down Our Breathing
There is one common thing everyone on the planet takes for granted except for lung disease patients: being able to breathe freely. As PF patients, we know the value of taking our next breath because of the struggles we face daily. An article was sent to me by a friend titled; “How one hour of slow breathing changed my life.” The author writes the article for the Guardian, I believe as self-promotion for his book. I had a short text discussion with Lynn Gorton, the respiratory therapist at the pulmonary rehab facility I attend. She has been the topic of a forum post and the subject of a column of mine. Lynn agreed with the author on many points in his article.
Lynn often tells me I over breathe and this is where many lung disease patients experience problems. In his article, the author writes, “We’ve been conditioned to breathe too much as well as eat too much.” As soon as I read this statement I immediately thought of Lynn and being scolded for over-breathing. Lynn consistently emphasizes to slow my breathing along with others who are in the class. She also facilitates the Better Breathers Club. In this group, she teaches the Buteyko breathing method. This technique is similar to the breathing technique the author is describing in his article.
I also agree with the message the author is conveying. I believe most people do over breathe, especially lung disease patients. Before my transplant, I can remember going into panic mode several times a day. It was horrible. I wish I had known Lynn back then. I believe she would have given me the direction I needed to avoid many of my struggles.
Forum Members: How many members have experienced problems with over-breathing?
What did you do to rectify the situation?
Have you practiced a particular breathing method to slow down your breathing?
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