Love your lungs

The simple ins and outs to help you breathe easier

- AMY PACKER

Getting fit and self care are so important for your physical and mental health and they bring some surprising benefits too.

Good food, a workout or a stretching session can improve your lungs, especially if you have a condition such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Here's how you can improve lung heath, according to the experts at charity Asthma + Lung UK, whether you suffer from a lung condition or not.

BREATHE RIGHT

A common symptom of conditions such as asthma and COPD is breathlessness. But certain inhalation and exhalation techniques can help to get your breathing under control when this symptom arises.

"Two methods for doing this are breathing control and rectangle breathing," says Kim Verry, Specialist Respiratory Therapist at Asthma + Lung UK.

"Breathing control is healthy, relaxed breathing into the bottom of your lungs using the diaphragm - your main breathing muscle. To try it, get into a comfortable position sitting down and let your shoulders and body relax.

"Place one hand on your chest and one on your tummy. Breathe in gently through your nose, going as deep as is comfortable. You should feel your tummy pushing out. Then breathe out through your nose or mouth. You should feel your tummy sink back in.

"Keep breathing and try to let go of any tension in your body. Start with a few minutes and build up to practising this for 10 minutes if you can.

"Rectangle breathing helps you to recover your breath by slowing down your breathing.

"Wherever you are, you'll see a rectangle shape, whether that's a TV, a book, or a window.

"Simply follow the sides of the rectangle with your eyes, taking a breath in when following the short side of the rectangle, and a breath out when following the long side of the rectangle.

"The aim is for the out breath to be longer than the in breath."

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