DE-MYSTIFYING Deep Slow Breaths

SLOW, LONG & VERY LITTLE BREATHING CAN CALM OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM, DECREASE APPETITE AND CAUSE MORE OXYGEN TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE BRAIN.

For starters, here is how 1 minute of Hyperventilation (excessive breathing) shows on our brain oxygen levels.

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Medical science has proven that the more we breathe (hyperventilate) the less blood goes to the brain and the heart and the less oxygen can get absorbed in the lungs.

Slow, long and decreased breath intakes can improve the quality of our life through increasing the efficiency of oxygen transport through the blood.


YOGIC-BREATHING PERSPECTIVE

The Yogis of India have always measured their life in number of breaths and not in the number of years they live. Thus the whole idea was to reduce the number of breaths per minute, thus inducing the many physiological and psychological effects, which we now know also to be scientifically proven to be positive & beneficial.

It is no surprise that it is stated in the ancient yogic-texts that Pranayama is the art of breathing less than normal.


INCREASED CARBON-DIOXIDE

In our previous blog post on Pranayama, we have made the point that breathing less than normal or HYPOVENTILATION causes the blood vessels to open, thus allowing fresh O2 carrying blood to flow into the vital organs better.

See our post here

In addition, HYPOVENTILATION (breathing less than normal) also causes the increased levels of CARBON-DIOXIDE (CO2) in our system.

This can be seen in this scientific experiment by Simon-Borg Oliver whose Capnometer studies show the increased levels of CO2 by slowing the breathing process.

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In the above graphic on axis X is time and Y is CO2 waveform.

After 1 minute of normal breathing, the experiment involves long inhales and long exhales (30 sec). Here you can see the spiking of CO2 levels.

it must also be noted that short durations of rapid breathing or hyperventilating can also be good for us. It is important to use it in conjunction with long breath holds.


BOHR’S EFFECT

The Bohr effect is a physiological phenomenon first described in 1904 by the Danish physiologist Christian Bohr. Haemoglobin’s oxygen binding affinity is inversely related both to acidity and to the concentration of carbon dioxide. When we breathe less than normal (hypoventilate) we begin to accumulate more carbon dioxide.

The experiment was the first to discover the relationship between CO2 and oxygen affinity.

The Bohr effect says that a decrease in blood pH (more acidity, less alkalinity) or an increase in blood CO2 concentration will result in haemoglobin proteins (in red blood cells) releasing their loads of oxygen, and a decrease in carbon dioxide or increase in pH (less acidity, more alkalinity) will result in haemoglobin picking up more oxygen and not allowing it to enter body cells.

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EFFECTS OF INCREASED CARBON-DOXIDE (CO2)

Increased levels of CO2 in the body tend to promote the following effects:
* increase in transfer of oxygen via the lungs to the blood (bronchodilitation)
* increase in blood flow to the brain and heart (vasodilation)
* increase in transfer of oxygen from haemoglobin in the body cells (Bohr effect)
* calmness of the nervous system (pH effect on nerves)
* decrease in hunger (pH effect on desire for acidic foods)

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singh