Top 5 Breathing Exercises for COVID-19 Patients

The SARS-CoV-2 virus severely attacks the lungs and respiratory system, making COVID-19 patients gasp for air with inconsistent oxygen levels. The effects can lead to pneumonia and ARDS, a serious lung injury.

These patients can recover from such grave situations by practising breathing exercises for COVID-19 patients. Breathing exercises can alleviate the effects of COVID-19 before, during, and after the diagnosis.

Read on to know more about breathing exercises that can help Covid-19 patients to recover fast.

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What Are the Best Breathing Exercises for COVID-19 Patients?

Here is a list of 5 breathing exercises that COVID-19 patients can practise to ensure healthy respiratory system.

1. Diaphragmatic Breathing (Belly Breathing)

Diaphragmatic breathing helps to enhance the function of the diaphragm, the major muscle for respiration. This breathing exercise for COVID-19 patients allows more oxygen to reach the lungs base, thus enabling patients to breathe easily. Diaphragmatic breathing is ideal for patients suffering from acute COVID-19.

2. Pranayama

Regarded as one of the best lung exercises, Pranayama helps increase lung capacity, enhance the immunity system and relaxes nerves by regulating breathing. There are various types of Pranayam that can be practised as post COVID-19 exercises. One such effective breathing exercise is Bhramari Pranayama. This lung exercise for COVID-19 patients will create vibration in the patients head, thus mitigating migrants, increasing concentration.

3. Yawn to Smile

Yawn to Smile is an effective exercise for COVID-19 patients that help to open up chest muscles, thus enabling the diaphragm to expand fully. Additionally, this deep breathing exercise increases coordination and strengthens arms and shoulders.

4. Pursed Lip Breathing

Pursed lip breathing exercise is one of the easiest breathing exercises for COVID-19 patients, which helps individuals to get more oxygen than normal breathing, regulate shortness of breath and expand airways. This exercise makes breathing more effective.

5. Anulom Vilom (Alternate Nostril Breathing)

Anulom Vilom is beneficial for keeping the respiratory system healthy. It is an effective breathing exercise for Coronavirus patients, which detoxifies the lungs, flush out excess fluid accumulation and controls blood flow in the lungs. This breathing exercise highly enhances the immunity system and lung capacity.

Note: Individuals must practise this exercise 2 hours before or after eating.

Now that patients know about deep breathing exercises for COVID-19 patient, they must know other important information to ensure faster and guaranteed recovery; read on.

Note: Individuals can also continue practising these breathing exercises after the COVID-19 vaccine jab.

How Effective Are Breathing Exercises for COVID-19 patients?

Conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Asthma (moderate to severe) makes individuals suffer from difficult breathing and have poor lung capacity.

These conditions lead to chronic inflammation of the lung and primarily attack individuals who have developed COVID-19. Conditions like inflammation in the lungs and airways make breathing difficult, which is present in all COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 impacts the respiratory tract and blocks airflow.

To combat these respiratory issues, patients can practise deep breathing exercises, which help to clear their lungs and improve lung function. These exercises can potentially clear mucus and other fluids from the lungs, enhance lung capacity, strengthen the diaphragm and relax the mind to cope up with long-term illness.

Which Exercises Should COVID-19 Patients Avoid?

Undoubtedly the breathing exercises for COVID-19 patients, benefits them. However, there are certain breathing exercises they must avoid. These are,

Patients suffering from a severe case of COVID-19 must avoid Kapalbhati Pranayama. It is an advanced breathing technique and makes patients feel dizzy and breathless due to the increased internal pressure or produced heat while practising.

Similarly, they must avoid Bhastrika Pranayama as this exercise demands rapid breathing in and out, which can compel COVID-19 patients to gasp for air and feel dizzy.

Additionally, there is another exercise named Moorchha (meaning fainting) Pranayama. It is an advanced breathing exercise that generates a feeling of fainting. Patients have to hold their breath which can put additional pressure on the lungs and make them feel dizzy.

Frequently Asked Questions

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When should individuals practise Pranayama?

Individuals should practise Pranayama with an empty stomach.

How long can a patient practise the breathing exercise (while suffering from COVID-19) of Yawn to Smile?

A patient can practice the breathing exercise (while suffering from COVID-19) of Yawn to Smile for one minute.

Does health insurance cover breathing therapy or post-COVID rehabilitation?

Yes, many modern health insurance plans now include coverage for post-COVID rehabilitation, which may involve breathing therapy, physiotherapy, or consultations with respiratory specialists. It offers plans that support recovery through outpatient and wellness benefits, helping you get back on your feet without worrying about medical expenses.