Improve health, wellbeing and performance through
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TNO research into physical training on exercise bicycles.
This research was carried out by monitoring breath control using breathing patterns that were pre-programmed into Respilex respiratory equipment. The results show a significant increase in oxygen intake and a significantly lower rate of heartbeat. These results can be explained as follows.
As breathing frequency returns to within normal physiological borders, the diaphragm plays a greater role in the breathing process and breathing via the chest is replaced to a large extent by breathing via the abdomen.
The diaphragm muscle separates the chest from the abdomen. The diaphragm depresses when breathing in, which results in an increase in pressure in the abdomen. Consequently, there is a decrease in the pressure in the chest cavity. The opposite occurs when breathing out: The diaphragm rises and the pressure in the chest increases compared to that in the abdomen.
What effect does this have on blood circulation. An increase in pressure in the abdomen results in an increase in pressure in the inferior vena cava, the vein that controls the flow of blood from the abdominal organs and lower limbs. This leads to a difference in pressure with the portion of the inferior vena cava that lies above the abdomen. This pressure difference allows the blood to flow easily to the portion of the vein that lies above the abdomen. It is here, above the abdomen, that the vein empties into the right auricle of the heart. The heart also experiences an increase in blood flow due to this pressure.
This results in a greater cardiac output per heartbeat, which, in turn, reduces the number of heartbeats per minute. This physiological occurrence becomes even more evident the more a person breathes via the abdomen.
Breathing via the abdomen also makes a vital contribution to the flow of blood to the brain. Breathing via the chest can result in a blockage of the vena jugularis (blood flow from the brain).
This research was carried out by monitoring breath control using breathing patterns that were pre-programmed into Respilex respiratory equipment. The results show a significant increase in oxygen intake and a significantly lower rate of heartbeat. These results can be explained as follows.
As breathing frequency returns to within normal physiological borders, the diaphragm plays a greater role in the breathing process and breathing via the chest is replaced to a large extent by breathing via the abdomen.
The diaphragm muscle separates the chest from the abdomen. The diaphragm depresses when breathing in, which results in an increase in pressure in the abdomen. Consequently, there is a decrease in the pressure in the chest cavity. The opposite occurs when breathing out: The diaphragm rises and the pressure in the chest increases compared to that in the abdomen.
What effect does this have on blood circulation. An increase in pressure in the abdomen results in an increase in pressure in the inferior vena cava, the vein that controls the flow of blood from the abdominal organs and lower limbs. This leads to a difference in pressure with the portion of the inferior vena cava that lies above the abdomen. This pressure difference allows the blood to flow easily to the portion of the vein that lies above the abdomen. It is here, above the abdomen, that the vein empties into the right auricle of the heart. The heart also experiences an increase in blood flow due to this pressure.
This results in a greater cardiac output per heartbeat, which, in turn, reduces the number of heartbeats per minute. This physiological occurrence becomes even more evident the more a person breathes via the abdomen.
Breathing via the abdomen also makes a vital contribution to the flow of blood to the brain. Breathing via the chest can result in a blockage of the vena jugularis (blood flow from the brain).
Observations of blood flow
As an increased heart rate can have a negative effect on performance, one needs to look after one’s mental well-being.
The TNO examination clearly demonstrated the variations in the diameter of the inferior vena cava when breathing in and out, and the stagnation of the flow of blood in the vena jugularis that results from rapid breathing. The ‘diaphragm phenomenon’ also showed up the flow of blood from the legs. This means that, when breathing in, the pressure in the abdomen increases and the flow of blood in the vena femorarolis (thigh vein) stagnates, and that the pressure in the abdomen decreases and the blood flows into the vena cava inferior when breathing out.
The TNO examination clearly demonstrated the variations in the diameter of the inferior vena cava when breathing in and out, and the stagnation of the flow of blood in the vena jugularis that results from rapid breathing. The ‘diaphragm phenomenon’ also showed up the flow of blood from the legs. This means that, when breathing in, the pressure in the abdomen increases and the flow of blood in the vena femorarolis (thigh vein) stagnates, and that the pressure in the abdomen decreases and the blood flows into the vena cava inferior when breathing out.