Breathing - a window to our health

A deep breath – this is how life begins. Breathing is much more than just supplying vital oxygen. It is your body's central energy supplier. If you don't have enough oxygen in your body, your body cannot function optimally. And that doesn't just apply to sporting performance, but also to everyday things.

How does breathing work?

Breathing is a fascinating and vital process in which we absorb oxygen from the air and release carbon dioxide through the respiratory tract. This exchange takes place in the lungs - more precisely in the tiny air sacs called alveoli. But how does breathing actually work?

When we breathe in, air flows into the airways through our nose or mouth. From there it reaches the lungs and further into the alveoli. Gas exchange takes place in these small bubbles surrounded by capillaries. Oxygen enters the blood through the fine walls of the alveoli, while carbon dioxide passes from the blood into the alveoli to leave our body the next time we exhale.

This oxygen in the blood is crucial for our cells to produce energy. Every cell in our body needs oxygen to produce energy using nutrients from our food - a process we call cellular respiration. This is the only way we can think, move and grow.

Breathe better - live healthier

Breathing is closely linked to the autonomic nervous system and reacts to moods. Deep and conscious breathing can relax and reduce stress, while shallow breathing is often associated with tension. You've probably lost your breath in a risky situation or felt the air burning in your airways after exercising.

Well-functioning breathing can have a positive effect on your endurance and performance, but also on your stress resilience and ability to relax. The following applies: Conscious inhaling can have an impact on your performance, while slow and conscious exhaling ensures relaxation.

Training breathing - The lungs need the strength of the breathing muscles

Unlike the heart, the lungs themselves have no muscles and cannot
be trained. Inhalation and exhalation are controlled by your respiratory muscles. This allows breathing to optimally supply your body with oxygen and energy via the respiratory tract.

How you can train your breathing and how it can help with common complaints like
For example, tension, back pain, stress, Long Covid can help, breathing expert Kevin Grafen, Dr. Matthias Wittfoth and DirkSchauenberg.

Frau mit geschlossenen Augen legt die linke Hand auf die Brust.

Breathing training

Get the best tips and exercises for better health and performance.

TO THE TRAINING
Frau liegt auf einem weißen Sofa und liest eine Zeitschrift, während sie durch den ARTZT neuro Atemtrainer atmet.

Breathe properly in everyday life

Make your everyday life easier with the right breathing technique.

TO THE TIPS
Frau atmet durch den ARTZT neuro Atemtrainer.

4 breathing exercises for stress and irritability

We'll show you 4 breathing exercises that can help you with stress and irritability.

TO THE EXERCISES

"The Wim Hof ​​method can positively balance breathing"

Interview with neuroscientist Dr. Andreas Wittfoth about the Wim Hof ​​method and breathing training during LONG COVID.

TO THE INTERVIEW

EXPERT VOICES

  • Dr. Matthias Wittfoth

    Not only old techniques, but also modern science shows: Our breathing is an exclusive turbo access to our nervous system. Breathing usually happens automatically. But if we understand and learn how to consciously control inhalation and exhalation, we have an invaluable tool for physical and mental health.

  • Kevin Grafen

    With our breathing we not only bring the vital oxygen into our body, which is the absolute basis for our “functioning”, but also activate and stimulate many nerve cells that provide information to the brain. Our brain relies on information to “tune” us correctly. That's why good breathing has an impact on our posture, pain and muscle tension.

  • Dirk Schauberg

    You never see him, you hear him sometimes and you immediately sense when he's not there for a moment. Our breath is the best friend at our side, a constant companion, an unimaginable dimension and fantastic possibility - the source of our life. My personal favorite saying is: I, a universe of atoms, an atom in the universe.

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