Pursed lip breathing is a simple technique for

slowing down a person’s breathing and getting

more air into their lungs. With regular practice, it
can help strengthen the lungs and make them
work more efficiently.

The technique involves breathing in through the nose and breathing out slowly
through the mouth. Repeated pursed lip breathing should slow breathing and
empty the lungs.

Pursed lip breathing can form part of a pulmonary rehabilitation program. It

may help people with lung conditions, particularly those with chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Improving the breathing process has many benefits. Getting more oxygen to
the body can help with everyday activities, such as climbing the stairs or
walking. It may allow a person to do more exercise or reduce
the stress that shortness of breath can cause.

Who does it benefit?

Pursed lip breathing can benefit people with conditions such as emphysema
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and chronic bronchitis.

Pursed lip breathing is beneficial for people with chronic lung disease. It can
help strengthen the lungs and make them more efficient.
Two key conditions that come under the term COPD are emphysema and
chronic bronchitis. Some doctors also include nonreversible or
refractory asthma under this term.

People with these conditions may:

 feel breathless
 cough often
 produce mucus when they cough
 wheeze
 have a tight feeling in their chest

Pursed lip breathing can help the lungs work better, and it may ease these
symptoms.

For people with healthy lungs, a strong muscle called the diaphragm plays a
role in the mechanics of breathing, contracting when a person breathes in to
draw air into the lungs. Every time a person breathes out, the diaphragm
relaxes into a dome shape, and this forces air out of the lungs.

In people with COPD, the diaphragm becomes weakened and does not work
as well. When it relaxes, stale air remains trapped in the lungs.

This trapped stale air leaves less room in the lungs for fresh air that contains
oxygen, which means that a person will feel short of breath. They may not
have enough air available in their lungs to exercise.

As the lungs are not working normally, the body starts to use muscles in the
back and chest to breathe. This irregular muscle use can be tiring and cause
discomfort.
With regular practice, pursed lip breathing can get rid of stale air in the lungs.
It can also help the lungs and diaphragm work better to get more oxygen into
the body.

Reference:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325555#how-to-do-it