BREATHING RETRAINNG

Breathing Retraining
Breathing retraining consists of exercises and breathing practices that are designed to achieve more efficient ad controlled ventilation and to decrease the work of breathing

 The overall purposes for doing breathing exercises are:

To relax muscles, relieve anxiety, and improve control of breathing. To eliminate useless uncoordinated patterns of respiratory muscle activity. To slow the respiratory rate. To decrease the work of breathing. To improve efficiency and strength of respiratory muscles. To improve ventilation and oxygen saturation during exercise.

Procedure of Diaphragmatic Breathing

1. Lie on your back on a flat surface or in bed, with your knees bent and your head supported. You can use a pillow under your knees to support your legs. Place one hand on your upper chest and the other just below your rib cage. This will allow you to feel your diaphragm move as you breathe.

 2. Breathe in slowly through your nose so that your stomach moves out against your hand. The hand on your chest should remain as still as possible. Inhaling through the nose filters, humidifies, and warms the air.

 3. Tighten your stomach muscles, letting them fall inward as you exhale through pursed lips . The hand on your upper chest must remain as still as possible. This assist in emptying the lungs of retained CO2.

To perform this exercise while sitting in a chair:

1. Sit comfortably, with your knees bent and your shoulders, head and neck relaxed. 2. Place one hand on your upper chest and the other just below your rib cage. This will allow you to feel your diaphragm move as you breathe. 3. Tighten your stomach muscles, letting them fall inward as you exhale through pursed lips. The hand on your upper chest must remain as still as possible.

Pursed lip breathing technique

Relax your neck and shoulder muscles. Breathe in (inhale) slowly through your nose for two counts, keeping your mouth closed. Don't take a deep breath; a normal breath will do. It may help to count to yourself: inhale, one, two. Inhaling through the nose filters, humidifies, and warms the air.

 Pucker or "purse" your lips as if you were going to whistle or gently flicker the flame of a candle. Pursing the lips increases the intratracheal pressure. Breathe out (exhale) slowly and gently through your pursed lips while counting to four. It may help to count to yourself: exhale, one, two, three, four. Exhaling through the mouth offers less resistance to expired air.

Nursing Responsibilities
If short breath, the patient should be instructed to concentrate on prolonging the length of exhalation This helps avoid initiating a cycle of increasing shortness of breath and panic. Minimize the amount of dust or particles in the air and provide adequate humidification This will make easier for the patient to breath. Instruct the patient to have adequate dietary intake This promotes gas exchange and increases energy levels. Instruct the patient to avoid intake of gas producing foods such as beans, legumes, broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts. Avoiding gas producing foods will prevent gastric distress. Teach the patient to rest before and after the meal. This will help the patient to conserve energy.