Spring is Upon Us - Remember Your Pursed Lip Breathing!

Now that warmer (and more humid) weather is emerging across the U.S. pollen and other allergenic plant matter is exploding into our breatheable air. Most of us tend to increase our outdoor physical activity as temperatures become more temperate and the unwelcome allergens in the air can make it more challenging to breathe when we do so.

So this is a perfect time of year for you to reintroduce yourself to the breathing technique known as pursed lip breathing. It is a highly effective method for overcoming shortness of breath attacks. Though I am not personally a smoker nor do I have COPD I use pursed lip breathing regularly when I am pushing myself in a workout at the gym or if I am out on a run or if I am about to climb a significant number of steps. I can tell you categorically it is amazingly effective at improving my capacity to breathe when I am under cardiovascular stress. I have also introduced this valuable breathing technique to my 71 year-old father, who is a former smoker and does have COPD. Ironically, until he read my Breathe Better for Life guide/CD, he had never heard of pursed lip breathing from his pulmonologist nor ever tried it. Needless to say, he is a convert and regular practitioner now.

If you are unfamiliar with the technique, I've included a link to a printable step-by-step instruction sheet from our Breathe Better for Life CD. To access the instructions, click here . If you are interested in ordering the full Breathe Better for Life guide/CD, visit www.breathebetterforlife.com.