{"id":47756,"date":"2022-12-09T19:43:08","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T19:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=47756"},"modified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","slug":"belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/","title":{"rendered":"Belly Breathing Vs Chest Breathing: Which Is Better?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#How_Breathing_Works\" >How Breathing Works<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#What_Happens_When_You_Take_A_Deep_Breath\" >What Happens When You Take A Deep Breath?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#What_Causes_You_To_Breathe_The_Wrong_Way\" >What Causes You To Breathe The Wrong Way?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Stress\" >Stress<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Anxiety\" >Anxiety<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Poor_Posture\" >Poor Posture<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Smoking\" >Smoking<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Obesity\" >Obesity<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Air_Pollution\" >Air Pollution<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#How_To_Breathe_Using_Your_Belly\" >How To Breathe Using Your Belly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#The_Benefits_Of_Belly_Breathing\" >The Benefits Of Belly Breathing<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Promoting_Relaxation\" >Promoting Relaxation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Reducing_Pain\" >Reducing Pain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Easing_Respiratory_Conditions\" >Easing Respiratory Conditions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#More_Efficient_Breathing\" >More Efficient Breathing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Strengthening_The_Diaphragm\" >Strengthening The Diaphragm<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Strengthening_Core_Muscles\" >Strengthening Core Muscles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Lowering_Heart_Rate_And_Blood_Pressure\" >Lowering Heart Rate And Blood Pressure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Improving_Digestion\" >Improving Digestion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#Reducing_Oxygen_Demand\" >Reducing Oxygen Demand<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breathe in, breathe out\u2014seems simple, right? If you&#8217;re like most people, you don&#8217;t think too much about your breathing. However, the way you breathe can make a big difference in your overall health. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two main types of deep breathing: chest breathing and belly breathing. Most people are chest breathers, but belly breathing is actually the more efficient way to breathe. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here&#8217;s a look at the differences between chest and belly breathing, and how belly breathing could help improve your health (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7602530\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Breathing_Works\"><\/span><strong>How Breathing Works<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your respiratory system is made up of your lungs, diaphragm, intercostal muscles and a network of airways that transport oxygen to your blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you breathe in, or inhale, your diaphragm contracts and moves downward. This increases the space in your chest cavity and causes your lungs to expand. As your lungs expand, they draw air in through your nose or mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The air that you <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/posture-and-breathing\/\">breathe<\/a> in is mostly nitrogen and oxygen. Oxygen enters your blood through tiny air sacs called alveoli. From there it&#8217;s carried to the rest of your body.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your respiratory system also helps to get rid of carbon dioxide, a waste product that&#8217;s produced when your cells use oxygen. When you exhale, or breathe out, your diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, pushing the carbon dioxide-rich air out of your lungs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Happens_When_You_Take_A_Deep_Breath\"><\/span><strong>What Happens When You Take A Deep Breath?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every so often we take deep breaths. Whether it&#8217;s just a big sigh or a deep inhale during a yoga class, what happens then can tell you whether your chest breathing or belly <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/exercise-for-shortness-of-breath\/\">breathing<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you take a deep breath and your shoulders go up, you&#8217;re a chest breather. When you chest breathe, only the upper part of your lungs expands. This can lead to shallow breathing and doesn&#8217;t efficiently move oxygen through your body.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deep belly breathing, on the other hand, involves the entire respiratory system. When you inhale deeply, your diaphragm contracts and moves downward, your ribs expand outward and your abdominal muscles push outward. This allows your lungs to fully expand and fill with air (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7602530\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How can you tell if you&#8217;re a chest or belly breather? Here are some visible\u00a0 differences between the two:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chest breathing &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shoulders go upwards, your body elongates as you inhale. Shoulders come back down, chest contracts as you exhale.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Belly breathing &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">belly comes outward, lungs expand as you inhale. Belly goes inward, rib cage contracts as you exhale.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><i>Read More: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/breathing-for-focus\/\"><i>Breathing For Focus: Improve Concentration &amp; Reduce Anxiety With These Simple Steps<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Belly_Breathing_Vs_Chest_Breathing\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-47367 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207627-1024x576.png\" alt=\"BetterMe\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207627.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207627-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207627.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207627-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207627.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Causes_You_To_Breathe_The_Wrong_Way\"><\/span><strong>What Causes You To Breathe The Wrong Way?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;ve just realized that you&#8217;re a chest breather, don&#8217;t worry &#8211; it&#8217;s not something that you need to be ashamed of. In fact, most people are chest breathers and don&#8217;t even realize it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few different things that can contribute to chest <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/breathing-during-exercise\/\">breathing<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stress\"><\/span><strong>Stress<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fast-paced modern life comes with a lot of stress. And when we&#8217;re stressed, our breathing tends to become shallower and more rapid. This can lead to chest breathing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Anxiety\"><\/span><strong>Anxiety<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People who suffer from anxiety often take short, shallow breaths that come from the chest. This type of breathing can aggravate anxiety symptoms and make them worse.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Poor_Posture\"><\/span><strong>Poor Posture<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sitting or standing up straight may not be something you think about often, but it can have a big impact on your breathing. When you have poor posture, it can restrict the movement of your diaphragm and make it difficult to take deep breaths. This can lead to chest breathing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People who work desk jobs or spend a lot of time hunched over electronic devices are especially prone to poor posture and chest breathing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Smoking\"><\/span><strong>Smoking<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your respiratory system. Not only does it damage your lungs, but it also encourages chest breathing. This is because smoking narrows your airways and makes it difficult to take deep breaths.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Obesity\"><\/span><strong>Obesity<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carrying around extra weight can make it difficult to breathe deeply. This is because the extra weight can put pressure on your diaphragm and make it harder for it to contract and move downward. As a result, you may find yourself breathing <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/benefits-of-holding-your-breath\/\">more often<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Air_Pollution\"><\/span><strong>Air Pollution<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breathing polluted air can irritate your respiratory system and make it difficult to breathe deeply.This is especially true for people who live in cities with high levels of smog and other types of pollution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Dropping pounds by the dozens without putting yourself through the wringer is everyone\u2019s weight loss pipe dream. But what if we told you that the BetterMe app can make that happen? <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Belly_Breathing_Vs_Chest_Breathing\">Keep yourself in prime shape<\/a> with our fat-blasting workouts, delicious budget-sparing recipes, and body-transforming challenges with our app!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Belly_Breathing_Vs_Chest_Breathing\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-47366 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207629-1024x576.png\" alt=\"belly breathing vs chest breathing\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207629.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207629-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207629.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207629-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Frame-207629.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Breathe_Using_Your_Belly\"><\/span><strong>How To Breathe Using Your Belly<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you know the difference between chest breathing and belly breathing, as well as the causes of chest breathing, it&#8217;s time to practice how to breathe correctly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Step 1 &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Lie flat on your back on a comfortable surface. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the ground.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Step 2 &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Place one hand on your upper chest and the other on your stomach just below your rib cage.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Step 3 &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Breathe in gently through your nose, allowing your stomach to expand as you inhale. The hand on your chest shouldn&#8217;t move, but the hand on your stomach should rise.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Step 4 &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Tighten your stomach muscles and exhale through your mouth. The hand on your stomach should move in as you exhale.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Step 5 &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Repeat the process several times, taking deep, slow breaths.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Benefits_Of_Belly_Breathing\"><\/span><strong>The Benefits Of Belly Breathing<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several benefits of belly breathing:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Promoting_Relaxation\"><\/span><strong>Promoting Relaxation<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you&#8217;re feeling stressed, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode. This increases your heart rate and blood pressure and makes it more difficult to breathe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belly breathing can help reverse these effects by activating on the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest and digestive functions (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/articles\/9445-diaphragmatic-breathing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reducing_Pain\"><\/span><strong>Reducing Pain<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deep belly breathing can help <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-it-good-to-workout-before-bed\/\">relieve pain<\/a> by decreasing the activity of pain-sensing nerves (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31436595\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Easing_Respiratory_Conditions\"><\/span><strong>Easing Respiratory Conditions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belly breathing is often used as a treatment for respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/copd\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20353679\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"More_Efficient_Breathing\"><\/span><strong>More Efficient Breathing<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belly breathing is a more <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/powerlifting-vs-bodybuilding\/\">efficient<\/a> way to breathe because it allows your lungs to fully expand and fill with air (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/articles\/9445-diaphragmatic-breathing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This means that more oxygen enters your blood and is carried to the rest of your body.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Strengthening_The_Diaphragm\"><\/span><strong>Strengthening The Diaphragm<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belly breathing also helps strengthen your diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that helps you breathe. When it&#8217;s strong and functioning properly, it can help improve your overall respiratory health (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/articles\/9445-diaphragmatic-breathing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Strengthening_Core_Muscles\"><\/span><strong>Strengthening Core Muscles<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The core muscles are a group of muscles that support your spine and help you maintain good posture. They include the abdominal muscles, the muscles around your spine and the pelvic floor muscles (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/articles\/9445-diaphragmatic-breathing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Belly breathing helps strengthen these <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/exercise-to-lower-cholesterol\/\">muscles<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Read More: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/benefits-of-breath-work\/\"><i>The Benefits Of Breath Work: An Age-Old Practice For Calmer Nerves<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Belly_Breathing_Vs_Chest_Breathing\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-47351 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207809-1024x576.png\" alt=\"belly breathing vs chest breathing\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207809.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207809-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207809.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207809-1635x920.png 1635w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207809.png 1729w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lowering_Heart_Rate_And_Blood_Pressure\"><\/span><strong>Lowering Heart Rate And Blood Pressure<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belly breathing can also help lower your heart rate and blood pressure. When you&#8217;re stressed, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode. This causes your heart rate and blood pressure to rise (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/articles\/9445-diaphragmatic-breathing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deep belly breathing helps counteract this response and can help you feel calm and relaxed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improving_Digestion\"><\/span><strong>Improving Digestion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belly breathing also has a positive effect on digestion. When you&#8217;re stressed, your digestive system doesn&#8217;t work as efficiently. Deep belly breathing can help relieve stress and allow your digestive system to function properly (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/articles\/9445-diaphragmatic-breathing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reducing_Oxygen_Demand\"><\/span><strong>Reducing Oxygen Demand<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belly breathing can also help to reduce the demand for oxygen. When you&#8217;re stressed, your body uses more oxygen than it does when you&#8217;re relaxed. This can lead to shortness of breath and an irregular heartbeat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belly breathing may reduce the demand for oxygen and can improve your overall respiratory health (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/articles\/9445-diaphragmatic-breathing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want to build an attention-grabbing bubble butt, blast away fat that\u2019s stored in all the wrong places, spring-clean your diet, turn back the clock on your skin, skyrocket your self-confidence and shatter your insecurities? Check out the BetterMe app and <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Belly_Breathing_Vs_Chest_Breathing\">set this plan in motion<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><strong>The Bottom Line<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belly breathing is a more efficient and effective way to breathe. It has many benefits, including promoting relaxation, reducing pain and easing respiratory conditions. Deep belly breathing can also help lower your heart rate and blood pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can try belly breathing by placing one hand on your upper chest and the other on your stomach. Breathe in through your nose, allowing your stomach to expand. Then, exhale through your mouth, tightening your stomach muscles. Repeat this process several times, taking deep, slow breaths.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Belly_Breathing_Vs_Chest_Breathing\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Breathe in, breathe out\u2014seems simple, right? If you&#8217;re like most people, you don&#8217;t think too much about your breathing. However, the way you breathe can make a big difference in your overall health. There are two main types of deep breathing: chest breathing and belly breathing. Most people are chest breathers, but belly breathing is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":47757,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[135],"tags":[],"coauthors":[123],"class_list":["post-47756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-growth"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Belly Breathing Vs Chest Breathing: Which Is Better? - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u2605 BELLY BREATHING VS CHEST BREATHING \u27a4 - which is better? This article looks at the benefits of belly breathing and how it can help to improve your respiratory health.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Belly Breathing Vs Chest Breathing: Which Is Better?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u2605 BELLY BREATHING VS CHEST BREATHING \u27a4 - which is better? This article looks at the benefits of belly breathing and how it can help to improve your respiratory health.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"#\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/shutterstock_2010664652-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Nderitu Munuhe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Nderitu Munuhe\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f5676083cac481eb625810c37473c649\"},\"headline\":\"Belly Breathing Vs Chest Breathing: Which Is Better?\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1523,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cdn.betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/shutterstock_2010664652-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Personal Growth\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Breathe in, breathe out\u2014seems simple, right? If you're like most people, you don't think too much about your breathing. However, the way you breathe can make a big difference in your overall health. <\\\/span><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">There are two main types of deep breathing: chest breathing and belly breathing. Most people are chest breathers, but belly breathing is actually the more efficient way to breathe. <\\\/span><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Here's a look at the differences between chest and belly breathing, and how belly breathing could help improve your health (<\\\/span><a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\\\/pmc\\\/articles\\\/PMC7602530\\\/\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">3<\\\/span><\\\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">).<\\\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><strong>How Breathing Works<\\\/strong><\\\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Your respiratory system is made up of your lungs, diaphragm, intercostal muscles and a network of airways that transport oxygen to your blood.\u00a0<\\\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">When you breathe in, or inhale, your diaphragm contracts and moves downward. This increases the space in your chest cavity and causes your lungs to expand. As your lungs expand, they draw air in through your nose or mouth.<\\\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">The air that you <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/posture-and-breathing\\\/\\\">breathe<\\\/a> in is mostly nitrogen and oxygen. Oxygen enters your blood through tiny air sacs called alveoli. From there it's carried to the rest of your body.<\\\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Your respiratory system also helps to get rid of carbon dioxide, a waste product that's produced when your cells use oxygen. When you exhale, or breathe out, your diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, pushing the carbon dioxide-rich air out of your lungs.<\\\/span>\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><strong>What Happens When You Take A Deep Breath?<\\\/strong><\\\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-wei ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\\\/\",\"name\":\"Belly Breathing Vs Chest Breathing: Which Is Better? - BetterMe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cdn.betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/shutterstock_2010664652-scaled.jpg\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"\u2605 BELLY BREATHING VS CHEST BREATHING \u27a4 - which is better? 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This article looks at the benefits of belly breathing and how it can help to improve your respiratory health.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Belly Breathing Vs Chest Breathing: Which Is Better?","og_description":"\u2605 BELLY BREATHING VS CHEST BREATHING \u27a4 - which is better? This article looks at the benefits of belly breathing and how it can help to improve your respiratory health.","og_url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_author":"#","article_modified_time":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1440,"url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/shutterstock_2010664652-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Nderitu Munuhe","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Nderitu Munuhe","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/"},"author":{"name":"BetterMe","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f5676083cac481eb625810c37473c649"},"headline":"Belly Breathing Vs Chest Breathing: Which Is Better?","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/"},"wordCount":1523,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/shutterstock_2010664652-scaled.jpg","articleSection":["Personal Growth"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breathe in, breathe out\u2014seems simple, right? If you're like most people, you don't think too much about your breathing. However, the way you breathe can make a big difference in your overall health. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two main types of deep breathing: chest breathing and belly breathing. Most people are chest breathers, but belly breathing is actually the more efficient way to breathe. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here's a look at the differences between chest and belly breathing, and how belly breathing could help improve your health (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7602530\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How Breathing Works<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your respiratory system is made up of your lungs, diaphragm, intercostal muscles and a network of airways that transport oxygen to your blood.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you breathe in, or inhale, your diaphragm contracts and moves downward. This increases the space in your chest cavity and causes your lungs to expand. As your lungs expand, they draw air in through your nose or mouth.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The air that you <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/posture-and-breathing\/\">breathe<\/a> in is mostly nitrogen and oxygen. Oxygen enters your blood through tiny air sacs called alveoli. From there it's carried to the rest of your body.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your respiratory system also helps to get rid of carbon dioxide, a waste product that's produced when your cells use oxygen. When you exhale, or breathe out, your diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, pushing the carbon dioxide-rich air out of your lungs.<\/span>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>What Happens When You Take A Deep Breath?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-wei ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/","name":"Belly Breathing Vs Chest Breathing: Which Is Better? - BetterMe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/belly-breathing-vs-chest-breathing\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/shutterstock_2010664652-scaled.jpg","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","description":"\u2605 BELLY BREATHING VS CHEST BREATHING \u27a4 - which is better? 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