Two-Minute Belly Breathing Reset

Transcript

Try this gentle belly-breathing exercise to help your body relax and possibly lower your blood pressure. Sit upright in a comfortable, supported position. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly. Breathe in slowly through your nose, letting your belly rise while your chest stays relatively still. Then breathe out slowly through gently pursed lips. Make the exhale longer than the inhale. Continue for three to five easy breath cycles. If it feels comfortable, keep going for a few minutes, at a slow pace of about six to ten breaths per minute. Do not force the depth or pace, and do not hold your breath. Stop and breathe normally if you feel lightheaded, uncomfortable, or short of breath. This exercise may complement blood-pressure treatment, but it does not replace prescribed medicine. Do not change or stop medication without speaking with a clinician. If you have a medical emergency or serious symptoms, seek urgent medical care rather than relying on breathing exercises.