Can a Change in My Breathing Help with Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)?
In many cases–yes. As discussed in a few of the questions above (Buteyko, nose breathing, and hyperventilation), when we lose too much carbon dioxide too quickly through chronic hyperventilation (breathing too fast or too much air for the conditions in which you find yourself) or because of other forms of faulty breathing, the arteries and vessels constrict and the red blood cells become sticky. This means that the heart has to work harder to attempt to get oxygen where it is needed in the brain and body. This can exacerbate or even cause high blood pressure in many people. By undertaking a program of natural, authentic breathing to eliminate bad breathing habits (such as frequent mouth breathing) and to ensure that the diaphragm can move freely through it full range of motion in coordination with appropriate effortless movement from the belly, back, ribs, and chest–one can not only help turn on the parasympathetic nervous system, the “relaxation response,” but one can also reduce or
