Chest breathing

Introduction Chest breathing is also called rib breathing, horizontal breathing. This breathing method relies on the lateral expansion of the ribs to inhale, and the ribs are lifted by the intercostal muscles to enlarge the thorax. In other words, when inhaling, the shoulders are lifted up, and the breath is absorbed shallowly, so it is also called shoulder breathing method, clavicle breathing method or high chest breathing method. Many people are used to breathing only with chest. This type of breathing is mainly the expansion and contraction of the chest, and the movement of the diaphragm is small. In this way, the breathing is concentrated in the upper and middle parts of the lungs, and the lower part of the lungs is less likely to move due to less movement, and the lungs are atrophied or even fibrotic. Because of this, many elderly people are prone to pneumonia.

Cause

The cause of chest breathing:

From the progress of the respiratory movement, it can be known that the respiratory movement mainly relies on the relaxation and contraction of the two parts of the respiratory muscles, which are manifested as activities of the chest and abdomen. First, the external muscles of the intercostal space cause the movement of the ribs and sternum, causing the chest to be anterior and posterior, and the left and right diameters are increased. The performance is mainly chest activity; the first is the contraction of the diaphragm, which increases the upper and lower diameter of the thorax, and the performance is mainly abdominal activity. When inhaling, the diaphragm contracted, the bulge of the sputum decreased, and the upper abdominal organs such as the liver and spleen decreased, so that the anterior abdominal wall protruded outward; when exhaled, the anterior abdominal wall was inwardly reset. Respiratory movements based on rib and sternum activity are called thoracic breathing; respiratory movements based on diaphragmatic movements are called abdominal breathing.

In chest breathing, only the upper half of the lungs are working, and the alveoli, which accounts for four-fifths of the lungs in the middle and lower lungs, is "resting." This will continue for many years, the middle and lower lungs will not be exercised, long-term use, easy to make the lungs aging, decreased elasticity, poor respiratory function, unable to obtain sufficient oxygen, can not meet the oxygen requirements of various tissues and organs, affecting the body's metabolism, The body's resistance is reduced, and it is prone to respiratory diseases, especially in autumn and winter. Degenerative diseases of the lungs often invade the middle and lower lungs of the elderly, which is closely related to the long-term use of the lower and middle lungs caused by chest breathing. Therefore, chest breathing is not conducive to the health of the lungs.

an examination

Related inspection

Bronchography

Chest breathing check:

Chest breathing, except that the ribs move up and down and the chest is slightly dilated, many alveoli at the bottom of the lungs have not undergone complete expansion and contraction, and there is no good exercise. In this way, oxygen can not be fully delivered to various parts of the body. Over time, various organs of the body will have varying degrees of hypoxia, and many chronic diseases will occur.

The following methods can help you determine if your breathing style is healthy:

If the chest and abdomen are tightened when inhaling, and the exhalation is instead bulging, the breathing is wrong.

If the hand placed on the chest is more undulating than the hand placed on the abdomen, or the hand placed on the abdomen is almost stationary, the breathing is unhealthy and the breathing is too shallow.

Differential diagnosis

Chest breathing needs to be differentiated from the following symptoms:

Tidal breathing: Tidal breathing, also known as Cheyne-Stokes breathing, has both respiratory rhythm changes and respiratory amplitude changes. From shallow to slow, then from deep to shallow, followed by an apnea, so repeated. Each tidal breathing cycle can be as long as 30s to 2 minutes, and the apnea can last for 5 to 30 seconds.

Irregular breathing: Irregular breathing patterns are characteristic of increased intracranial pressure. Common tidal breathing, shallow and fast breathing, sobbing-like breathing. Respiratory slowing is more common in patients with posterior fossa hematoma. Irregular breathing and tidal breathing are common in brain stem injury.

Abdominal Abnormal Breathing: Abnormal breathing is a pathological respiratory movement, which is caused by multiple rib fractures in the chest after chest trauma, softening of the chest, normal body in the chest when inhaling, chest wall falling during exhalation; abnormal breathing movement On the contrary, the chest is lowered during inhalation and the chest wall is raised when exhaling.

Chest breathing, except that the ribs move up and down and the chest is slightly dilated, many alveoli at the bottom of the lungs have not undergone complete expansion and contraction, and there is no good exercise. In this way, oxygen can not be fully delivered to various parts of the body. Over time, various organs of the body will have varying degrees of hypoxia, and many chronic diseases will occur.

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