Take in a deep breath, and then exhale it out. Did your abdomen push out when you breathed in, or did your chest puff extend out? If the second occurred, then you're breathing improperly. As a matter of fact, roughly 33% of all adults breathe incorrectly. The National Institute on Aging estimates that the majority of people only use about 10 to 20% of their bull breathing capacity, making breathing difficult if you have asthma.

Chest or Belly Breathing?

When you were an infant, you naturally breathed from the belly. With each breath, the flattened muscle between the abdomen and lungs known as the diaphragm expanded to make room for the incoming air. Breathing this way made maximum oxygen exchange possible. This is the process by which oxygen is filtered into the blood from the air, and expelled as carbon dioxide. Diaphragmatic, or belly, breathing crucial for the best health, but for some reason most of us forget how to breath properly as we age.

Rather, adults generally breathe in the chest, targeting the lung area. Breathing from the chest actually hinders the breathing process, reducing the level of oxygen exchange. When inconsistent and weak, chest breathing is frequently associated with fear or anxiety.

The Health Effects of Breathing Techniques

The body's system used in the removal of waste, known as the lymph system, is unable to pump waste from the body like the way in which the heart pumps blood. Rather, it depends on the diaphragm and lungs to swap "good" air for “bad.” However, weak breathing from the chest keeps oxygen from being exchanged effectively. When less oxygen is brought into the body and less carbon dioxide and other wastes are expelled, the body begins to experience an increased level of toxins. Over time, this build-up can result in panic attacks, anxiety, headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, ,asthma, and depression. General health and life quality are partially depending on correct breathing techniques, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Making Every Breath Count

Besides regular belly breathing, these are some tips for better breathing:

Use your nose to breathe. Your nose is filled with small hairs that act as a filter for particles of dirt and dust that can be harsh on lungs. Also, breathing this way warms and humidifies the air on its way to the lungs, which can help breathing if you have suffer from asthma.

Wear clothes that are loose and comfortable. Constraining clothes around the abdomen might make it more difficult for the diaphragm to expand and contract to the fullest extent when breathing.

Keep stress under control. When put under stress, you have an increased chance of breathing shallower, quicker breaths. In the most severe form, this is called hyperventilation. Since the exchange of oxygen is lowered during hyperventilation, your body can be deprived of oxygen. Not the best way to handle stress at work.