Signs you're breathing abnormally and how you can fix it

Breathing was and has become an important aspect of our lives. Especially since the onset of coronavirus, the need to boost lung health and enhance lung capacity has gained much momentum in recent times. While breathing is what keeps us alive and going, overdoing it can be detrimental for our physical and mental well-being.

Whether it's eating, exercising or even sleeping, excess of anything can be harmful. When it comes to breathing especially, hyperventilation, also known as overbreathing can cause serious impact on our health. The worst thing about it is that even when your breathing is broken, you do not realise it and neglect it for a considerable time. That said, here's a guide to understanding your breathing.

Breathing is the most natural process in our body. We do it without giving it a thought and it just automatically plays out. But what happens when you over breathe? What does it mean?

Overbreathing or hyperventilating is when you inhale and exhale more deeply than usual and at a faster rate. Normally, your breathing rate ranges from 12 to 16 breaths per minute. However, when your breathing pattern changes and you start overbreathing, you can experience shortness of breath, heart palpitations, anxiety and also may fall unconscious.

While these are some telling signs of overbreathing, there are times you don't even realize that your breathing is out of proportion.

Read more: Best breathing exercises to boost immunity and positivity in your body

Breathing through your mouth, snoring, yawning, waking up to a dry mouth are all signs that you're overbreathing. While these signs are almost always neglected and ignored, it is important to note that it could mean something more severe than it appears.

Usually, we breathe in oxygen (O2) and release carbon dioxide (CO2). But when we breathe abnormally, CO2 levels build up in our body leading to a drop in blood pH levels.

Almost always, we give credit to oxygen for regulating our breathing, however, CO2 has a vital role to play in this entire process. CO2 levels are the main influence. A rise in CO2 levels in the body is what urges us to breathe, rather than a lack of oxygen. That said, the more intolerant you are to CO2 levels in your body, the sooner you will feel the need to breathe. Mouth breathing can increase your sensitivity towards CO2, making you breathe faster, which is why experts and physicians always recommend nasal breathing.

Nasal breathing is highly beneficial in not just improving your lung capacity, but also making you more tolerant and less sensitive towards CO2 levels in your body. This in turn helps you regulate your breath efficiently.

Whether at rest, during sleep or while training, breathing through your nose is highly beneficial. Not only does it allow you to take deeper breaths, but it also helps your body convert more oxygen into carbon dioxide waste. Our respiratory rate is naturally brought down through nasal breathing, which also leads to a calming effect.

Apart from that, breathing through your nose while sleeping also improves your sleep and helps your body function better. This further calms your nerves and regulates your breathing.

Read more: 3 breathing techniques that may help to release pain

Normal respiration rate ranges from 12 to 16 breaths per minute. But those who breathe through their mouth possess a respiration rate that is much higher. Asthmatic and people with pre-existing medical conditions have respiration rate above 20.

Low CO2 levels in the body is often linked to mouth breathing, which is associated with faster breathing. This in turn causes overbreathing or hyperventilation.

Mouth breathing can cause sleep disturbances, sleep apnea, snoring, dry mouth and more such issues.