[Medical Q&A] What are some tips for breathing training for patients with COPD?

Author: Nie Shan, deputy chief physician, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University

Reviewer: Xu Bo, Chief Physician and Professor, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University

Respiratory muscle training for COPD patients can strengthen respiratory muscles, improve lung function and gas exchange in the lungs, and relieve dyspnea symptoms. Here are two tips for breathing training.

(1) Pursed lip breathing: First, inhale slowly through your nose, silently counting 1, 2. Then close your lips until there is only a gap, like whistling, and exhale slowly and gently through your lips, silently counting 1, 2, 3, 4. This alternation can open the narrow airway, increase alveolar ventilation, and improve hypoxia.

(2) Abdominal breathing: First choose a comfortable position, place your hands on your abdomen, and try to relax. When exhaling, inhale through your nose, sink your abdomen, and use your hands to apply a little pressure, silently counting 1, 2. When inhaling, exhale through your mouth, and the upper abdomen resists the pressure of your hands and slowly bulges, silently counting 1, 2, 3, 4. To sum it up in ten words, "inhale to inflate your abdomen, and exhale to shrink your abdomen." This can improve breathing efficiency, improve gas distribution, reduce breathing power consumption, and relieve symptoms of shortness of breath.

In the initial stage of abdominal breathing exercise, do it twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes each time, and incorporate pursed lip exhalation into the abdominal breathing exercise, and do it anytime and anywhere to eventually form a habitual breathing method. In addition, my country's traditional sports such as Ba Duan Jin, Tai Chi, Liu Zi Jue, and breathing exercises can also achieve the effect of respiratory rehabilitation by adjusting the posture, breathing, and mind.