Breathing is a vital process that affects every activity that we perform. It is one of the body’s most basic functions and generally takes place without conscious thought. Breathing is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, with rapid, shallow breathing being associated with stress and tension.
A breathing rate monitor will help give accurate feedback on how quickly or slowly you’re inhaling or exhaling. By checking this data regularly, you can make sure that you’re breathing as evenly as possible.
The benefits of the breathing monitor include the following:
1) INCREASE BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS
The more efficiently oxygen is used, the less tired you will feel. You can train your body to breathe slower and deeper by recording your inhaling and exhaling rates for a week or until you notice increased stamina. Your target should be to breathe 10 times slower than you normally, which is equivalent to breathing once per minute instead of twice every 60 seconds (based on ideal resting heart rate). This way, your lungs will receive enough oxygen to keep up with demand, and you’ll not risk hyperventilation, which can have negative consequences on your health.
2) REDUCE STRESS
Your heart rate is directly related to different emotions. When you are anxious, stressed, or angry, your breathing gets shallower and faster – it’s a way of releasing tension built up in the body. By slowing down your breath, you’ll be able to manage feelings of anxiety better, plus reduce the risk of hyperventilation in stressful situations.
3) IMPROVE PERFORMANCE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Studies have shown that when athletes match their breathing rate with a certain tempo beforehand (e.g., inhaling for 3 steps and exhaling for 2), they perform better than those who do not breathe at an optimal rhythm. A study found that synchronizing movements with breathing helped rowers complete the 2,000-meter race by nearly five seconds.
4) CONTROL WEIGHT GAIN
Breathing improperly can result in retaining carbon dioxide and therefore lead to additional weight as there’s a possibility of water retention. However, if you breathe properly and at the right rate, you’ll be able to break this vicious circle and reduce not only your body fat level but also improve your health overall.
5) MONITOR BREATHING RATE
A quick and easy way to ensure that you’re breathing at a steady, appropriate rate is by wearing a helpful breathing monitor – i.e., This device provides real-time feedback on your measured respiration. Monitoring your inhalations and exhalations will give accurate data about how long it takes for you to take a breath in or out, which is important for pacing yourself appropriately depending on what you’re doing at any given time.
6) BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM
By slowing down your breathing, you activate the fight or flight response in your body, responsible for releasing hormones – glucagons and cortisol – that stimulate the breakdown of sugars (glucose) stored in your liver. This makes you feel energized while also helping cleanse toxins from your body. Therefore it’s a great way to boost immunity naturally.
7) IMPROVE SLEEP QUALITY
Taking deep breaths before going to bed can help calm your nerves and control feelings of anxiety that may keep you up at night. Moreover, when done before sleeping, you’ll likely fall asleep faster and experience fewer interrupted sleep cycles.
Breathing may sound like a simple activity, but it’s the foundation of all sports training. By slowing down breathing, your body will become more efficient in using oxygen, leading to improved stamina, performance, and overall health.