Working With Your Breath to Lower Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the heart when it pumps blood into the blood vessels. Arteries resist the flow of blood by exerting a resistive force. It is the combination of these two forces that contribute to blood pressure.

Generally, high blood pressure can be linked to obesity, lack of physical activity, unhealthy habits, and thyroid inefficiency. Aside from medications and a commitment to improved health, there are also a couple of breathing exercises you might try.

Deep Abdominal Breathing Exercise

 

This breathing technique is also called a diaphragmatic breathing exercise.

• Put one of your hands on your chest and the other on your abdomen. As you inhale, take care that the hand on your abdomen raises higher than the hand on your chest. This ensures that the diaphragm expands enough to put enough air into the lungs.
• Hold your breath for a few seconds, but do not force yourself to hold it. 
• Exhale slowly and completely. When all the air is released, gently contract the diaphragm muscles and relax.

Repeat the cycle four or five times.

As a general rule, the exhalation time is twice that of the inhalation. When you master this practice, you can cease putting a hand on your chest and abdomen; that was just meant to give you a feel of the expanding diaphragm.