Why is Slow, Deep Breathing Good for Your Health?

Abstract

The oxygen obtained through breathing is critical for the functioning of the brain and every organ of the body. The body’s breathing and blood circulation systems ensure an adequate supply of oxygen to every cell of the body, and they also help to eliminate the waste products of cellular activity, namely carbon dioxide. The heart is the pump for the circulation system, and the heart rate increases every time we breathe in and decreases when we breathe out. Thus, slow, deep breathing is a good exercise for the heart. Research has indicated that deep breathing can change the activity level of our genes and the speed of cerebrospinal fluid flow in the brain. The nose cleans, moistens, and warms air as it moves to the throat. A gas released by the body inside the nose helps the lungs absorb more oxygen. Thus, for our health, breathing through the nose is better than breathing through the mouth.