For executive mums, balancing a demanding work schedule with family responsibilities often means long hours at the desk or slouched over mobile devices. This habitual posture not only leads to typical back or neck pain but can also cause unexpected symptoms like shortness of breath. If you're experiencing this and have ruled out medical issues, you might be puzzled about why it's happening. Let's delve into how your posture can significantly impact your breathing.
A forward head posture is the most prevalent form of poor posture, increasingly observed not just among those who work at desks but also among younger generations glued to their mobile phones. This posture can lead to a variety of symptoms including neck, jaw, and shoulder pain, headaches, dizziness and even spinal changes that contribute to arounded upper back and aslouched lower back. Interestingly, these postural changes can also lead to shortness of breath, linking how you hold your body directly to how well you can breathe.
Breathing might seem straightforward: we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, but the mechanics involve more than just the lungs. The diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle sitting right under the lungs, plays a crucial role as the main muscle of respiration, handling about 80% of the work during relaxed breathing. When you sit in a slouched posture, your abdomen is compressed, reducing the space for your organs to move. This limits the diaphragm's and intercostal muscles' ability to fully expand the lungs, resulting in reduced lung capacity and less oxygen intake. The consequence is shallow chest breathing, which places undue stress on the upper shoulder and neck muscles. These muscles are not designed to handle the breaths we take daily and can quickly become fatigued and tired.
Interestingly, research into breathing patterns and emotions has revealed that a slumped posture can induce feelings of sadness. However, the empowering news is that by altering your posture and breathing pattern, you can also change your emotional state.
If you are looking to enhance your health and mood, focusing on posture could be a significant first step. Small adjustments in your sitting, standing and sleeping postures can profoundly affect your overall well-being and your ability to lead a vibrant, pain-free life. By becoming aware of and modifying your posture, you can improve not only physical symptoms like shortness of breath but also your general mood and outlook.
HERE is a free guide for you to 'How can you maintain a good posture while working from home?' It has simple tips and modifications that can help avoid neck pain while working from your home or your office.
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