When we feel ‘short of breath’ we mostly associate it with being ‘short of oxygen’ and thus think that we need ‘more’ oxygen, and thus take more or deeper breaths to fix it. In fact, when we feel short of breath, it is most often because we have lost too much CO², and thus although there may be ample O² in our blood, our cells are unable to access it. |
|
Taking a deeper breath, or breathing more frequently, or even doing a combination of both, paradoxically makes the problem worse, because it leads to losing even more CO² and thus making the O² even less available. When incorrect breathing habits continue they can lead to a vicious circle of increasing breathing difficulty.
|
|