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Many of you would shy away from inflating balloons, but you must have heard at some point or the other that how beneficial it can be for you to inflate a balloon. Especially if you have asthma or you are suffering from any other respiratory problem, then in this situation, blowing a balloon is nothing less than a therapy for you. Now you must be thinking how? So, on the occasion of World Asthma Day, let us know how balloon breathing exercise helps in increasing the capacity of the lungs.
For this, we reached out to Dr. Sandeep Nair, Senior Director and HOD, Center for Chest and Respiratory Diseases, BLK Max Super Specialty Hospital, New Delhi. He has told some important things about the benefits of inflating balloons for asthma patients. So let’s know how it works.
Inflating balloons strengthens the muscles of the diaphragm.
According to Dr. Sandeep Nair, Balloon Breathing Exercise Respiration strengthens the muscles of the diaphragm, as well as strengthens your abdominal muscles. As you inflate the balloon, it increases oxygenation by opening the alveoli, the furthest part of the airways.
As a result, circulation to the heart, brain and all other parts of the body improves and mental and physical fatigue is reduced.
Inflating balloons is the best exercise for the lungs
The more oxygen your body gets during exercise, the longer you can go without feeling breathless and tired. Oxygen breaks down glucose and provides energy to muscles and cells. When there is plenty of oxygen available, the muscles become more active. Due to which the endurance of your lungs increases.
Inflate balloons if you have a lung or breathing problem. By doing this, there is a continuous increase in the capacity of the lungs and the ability of the lungs to maintain an adequate supply of oxygen also increases. In the beginning, you can start with two to four balloons. Later on you can inflate 10 to 20 balloons as per your capacity.
Know how balloon breathing exercise works for respiratory muscles
Blowing up balloons means exercising the respiratory muscles. A group of muscles is involved in this exercise. This exercise extends and contracts the chest. The basic respiratory muscles are the diaphragm, the internal intercostals, and the external intercostals.
Read also: World Asthma Day: Know how asthma patients can take care of themselves in the changing weather
Accessory muscles and other muscles that help lift your rib cage. So that the lungs can expand and they can get air. They are used while performing physical activities. When you continuously inflate the balloon, it effectively activates all these muscles, thereby increasing your lung capacity and endurance. An increase in lung capacity can be a positive for an asthma patient.
Keep these things in mind while doing balloon exercise
Be aware that synthetic materials are used to make balloons, as well as preservatives used in packaged balloons. So don’t forget to clean them thoroughly before inflating them.
If you have asthma or any other type of respiratory problem, do not blow up too many balloons at once. This can be harmful for you. Inflate 4 to 5 balloons in the beginning and then gradually increase it.
Read also: Running in Asthma: If you are suffering from asthma and want to run, then know how it can be safe for you.
