Breathing is important to our health in many ways we often take for granted. Without proper breathing, oxygen cannot reach our brain and extremities and may result in diseases or physical problems we may never fully understand. In our chiropractic office, we often emphasize evaluating and working on the entire person, not just the area of complaint since the problem they are experiencing often is much larger than where the pain is. One common finding with longstanding shoulder or neck complaints are problems in the abdominal area and the insertions of the diaphragm which allow us to breathe and expand our lungs. The movement of the ribs is also vitally important as this is part of our breathing mechanisms. Patients often comment on how much looser and more relaxed they feel once these restrictions are resolved. They also notice that breathing improves. With improved breathing comes better oxygenation of the body with each breath we take. Efficient breathing is good for our health. yet so many of us have poor breathing adaptations or habits that we are unaware of. There are weekend clinics that focus just on breathing and breathing techniques. Our office teaches patients some of these which help their health over the long term. The NY Times recently explored breathing and this article should be required reading for anyone who breathes. Just Breathe By Alisha Haridasani Gupta We breathe in and out roughly 25,000 times a day. And yet, according to experts, including pulmonologists and psychiatrists, most of us are doing it wrong — breathing too rapidly and too shallowly. Over the last few decades, research has started to confirm what ancient cultures around the world have long believed: Breath work, the practice of correcting and controlling your breathing through simple exercises, can improve health and well-being. At rest, your breathing should be slow and steady, between 12 and 20 breaths per minute. Consciously slowing that even further — to between five to seven breaths per minute at rest — can help reduce blood pressure, regulate heart rate and lift mood. Researchers have also reported that breathing slowly can reduce chronic pain, stress and depression, and bolster fitness and energy levels. Read more