Our common breathing style is divided into thoracic and abdominal breathing Thoracic breathing is inhalation by lateral expansion of the rib cage alone, using the external intercostal muscles to lift the rib cage to expand the thorax. Breathing is shallow and fast. During thoracic breathing, only the upper half of the alveoli of the lungs are working, and the alveoli of the middle and lower lung lobes, which account for four fifths of the whole lung, are “resting”. The body can not get enough oxygen to meet the needs of various tissues and organs for oxygen, affecting the level of metabolism, the body’s resistance to decline, prone to respiratory diseases, especially in the fall and winter, the elderly are prone to pneumonia when they occasionally feel wind and cold. Degenerative diseases of the lungs mostly affect the middle and lower lung lobes of the elderly, which is closely related to the long-term disuse of the middle and lower lung lobes caused by thoracic breathing. Abdominal breathing increases the range of motion of the diaphragm and improves the ventilation of the lungs. Studies have proven that a one centimeter increase in diaphragm descent can increase lung ventilation by 250 to 300 milliliters. Adherence to abdominal breathing for six months can increase the range of motion of the diaphragm by four centimeters. This is a great benefit for the improvement of lung function and is one of the important rehabilitation tools for senile emphysema and other pulmonary ventilation disorders. The basic essentials of abdominal breathing: concentrate on the mind, relax the shoulders, exhale first and then inhale, inhale the drum and exhale the deflated. Specific method: stand relaxed in a quiet environment, treat the abdomen as a ball or bellows, inhale through the nose to make the abdomen bulge, pause for a second or two, then exhale through the mouth to the abdominal wall sink. About five or six times per minute is sufficient. Generally twice a day for about 15 minutes each time. The key to abdominal breathing is: either inhale or exhale to try to reach the “limit” amount, that is, inhale until you can no longer inhale, exhale until you can no longer exhale for the degree; the same reason, the abdomen should also be contracted and expanded to the extreme point, if each breath directly to the lower Dantian is better. The benefits of abdominal breathing First, expand lung capacity, improve cardiopulmonary function. Can make the thorax to get the maximum expansion, so that the lower alveoli of the lungs to stretch, so that more oxygen into the lungs, improve the function of the heart and lungs. Secondly, it reduces lung infections, especially less pneumonia. Third, it improves the function of the abdominal organs. It improves the function of the spleen and stomach, which helps to soothe the liver and promote bile secretion. Abdominal breathing can lower blood pressure by lowering abdominal pressure, which is good for hypertensive patients. Fourth, it is good for tranquilizing and educating.