Dooley Noted: 8/29/2014
This morning, I hiked 3 miles to the SGU campus to teach a review session.
While brisk walking on hilly landscape feels wonderful, I found myself not breathing efficiently.
I gasped quickly on inhales and let out short exhales, so I could suck in air again.
As I felt myself do this, I became quickly fatigued going up a hill. I knew I was not properly blowing off enough carbon dioxide with my exhale.
So, I put on some music to which I could sing.
I didn’t care who was listening. I needed to prolong my exhale and blow off some carbon dioxide, so oxygen could have a chance to be delivered.
Oxygen is only taken into the respiratory system on the inhale. It’s delivered to cells on the exhale.
One can argue the exhale is ideally elongated and prolonged for better oxygen delivery to cells.
So, I took in nice sharp nasal inhales and held out my singing notes. I felt elation and immediate energy as I sang. I was walking so briskly that I was near skipping and found myself sprinting in segments without even thinking about it.
I have assigned singing to patients who can’t seem to understand what I mean by “prolonging the exhale.” Have them sing, breathing deeply into the belly, and they naturally prolong the exhale as they sing lyrics.
Give it a shot! It may be the drill you need to feel what it’s like to get more oxygen to the cells.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley