Breathe Deeply to Ease Pain

Breathe Deeply to Ease Pain (0:56)

Did you know that slow, deep breathing can lift your mood and even relieve pain? In this video, Barbara Ficarra, RN, discusses the benefits of this simple breathing technique to soothe pain and reduce stress.

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Hi I'm Barbara Ficarra with a simple tip to ease pain and stress. Breath more slowly. It turns out that deep, slow breathing, similar to what's practiced in Zen meditation can ease aches and pains, and it can lift your spirits too. In one study healthy women were exposed to a heat source that was mildly to moderately painful.

The women reported feeling less discomfort when they took slow breaths compared to breathing normally, to slow down their breath they breathed about half their usual breathing rates. The women also reported feeling less stress. Researchers think slow breathing can trigger the parts of the thetic nervous system to induce calm and counter any painful feeling.

So next time you feel pain or just everyday stress, take a deep breath. For more ways to live healthy, watch all our smart tips right here.