Deep breathing techniques help you exhale more completely. They strengthen your stomach muscles and your diaphragm (the muscle just below your rib cage), which can help improve your breathing and your lung function. Your health professional or respiratory therapist can teach you how to do these techniques on your own; you may need several lessons before you know how to do them correctly.
Deep breathing exercises have not been shown to be better than chest physical therapy.
Credits
| Author | Debby Golonka, MPH |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Denele Ivins |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Martin Steinberg, MD - Hematology |
| Last Updated | January 19, 2007 |
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