What do we really know about "breathing"?
Well today . . . let's discover
A person's respiratory rate is the number of breaths they take in any given moment. And the normal rate for an adult is between 12 and 20 breaths per minute.
But . . . if this rate increases to over 25 breaths per minute at a resting state . . . this is considered abnormal.
And with this . . . each breath takes around 2 seconds for an inhalation and 3 seconds for an exhalation.
Now . . . as we know . . . when we breathe, we use our respiratory system. The body's cells use the oxygen we breathe in, and in return, the body creates waste in the form of carbon dioxide. This normal breathing process starts when the diaphragm, the muscle located under the lungs, contracts and moves downward. This increases the space in the chest which makes the lungs expand, allowing air to enter through the nose or mouth.
Deep breathing allows the body to fully exchange incoming oxygen with outgoing carbon dioxide, which in turn . . . slows the heartbeat, stabilizes blood pressure and lowers stress.
So how does this affect our breathing when oxygen is restricted and our lungs aren't functioning properly?
Well . . . when oxygen levels in the body are low . . this changes the way immune cells behave. Meaning . . . if the immune system becomes deprived of oxygen . . . it overreacts and thinks the body has an infection. But . . . in reality, it doesn't.
And as we know from previous Health tips, the immune system sends out "inflammation" and "histamine" when it thinks there's a problem. And now, we're left with a body in distress.
Okay . . . now add to this, a person with a weak immune system in the first place and they are left with a higher risk of frequent infections and more prone to "pneumonia" and other lung conditions.
So how do we keep our body and immune system healthy with enough oxygen?
Well . . . one way would be . . . keeping the body "hydrated".
We've spoken about this many times before.
An in order to oxygenate and expel carbon dioxide, our lungs need to be "hydrated" and drinking plenty of water will influence oxygen levels in the body.
So maintaining healthy breathing is just another reason we need to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.
Tomorrow, we'll continue with another way to help keep our lungs healthy.
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