5 Beneficial Breathing Exercises for Seniors

The senior years can become very hectic and stressful for your loved one. Chronic medical conditions, financial issues, and family matters can make your loved one stressed and depressed. Phoenix home care experts suggest seniors to try a few breathing exercises before taking powerful medicines that may help them live a high-quality life.

1. To Boost Energy

Seniors may feel less energized compared to young people because of medical conditions. One way for seniors to regain energy is to try a short breathing exercise. To do this, seniors should inhale and exhale oxygen rapidly for at least 15 seconds in the beginning and with the passage of time, they should try to increase their duration.

2. To Relieve Stress

Seniors are more likely to become stressed and depressed in their golden years. One such exercise for seniors to relieve stress and depression is to try belly breathing. Belly breathing is a very basic and easy to do exercise and your loved one might love to do this exercise on a regular basis. Seniors should sit or lie on a comfortable surface and place their one hand on their stomach and the other hand on their chest. Now, breathe in deeply through your nose and use your hand to prevent your chest from moving. Then, slowly breathe out using your lips and observe your hand on the stomach go in. Try this exercise 5 to 10 times every day to prevent depression, stress, and anxiety.

3. To Help in Sleeping

In the senior years, your loved one might face sleeping concerns due to insomnia or Restless leg Syndrome. However, by performing a breathing exercise daily, your loved one might sleep quickly and comfortably. To perform this exercise, seniors should inhale with their mouth and hold their breath till the count of seven. Then, breathe out slowly through their mouth and do this exercise for at least 10 times every day.

4. To Prevent Headaches

Alternate nostril breathing is a meditative exercise that stimulates the brain and helps in preventing headaches and migraines. Begin placing your right thumb on your right nostril and breathe in with your left nostril. Inhale till the maximum point and block your left nostril with your right finger and exhale slowly through your right nostril. Seniors should repeat the pattern for 15 minutes and they may observe a reduction in the quantity and severity of their headaches and migraines.

5. To Relieve Morning Sickness

Many seniors experience morning sickness like vomiting, nausea, and muscle stiffness. Seniors use various medicines to treat such issues. However, seniors can also prevent morning sickness by performing morning breathing exercise. This exercise may ease off the symptoms of nausea and treat muscle stiffness in the morning. Seniors should bend down while standing and should try to get their hands as close as possible to the floor. While doing this, seniors should breathe in deeply and then slowly get up. Then, seniors should hold their breath for a few seconds and exhale slowly. Seniors should try this exercise every morning after waking up.

Although, these exercises will help your loved one to reap numerous health benefits, performing exercises on their own can be risky for him or her too. In Phoenix, in-home care experts can help seniors perform these exercises safely and may also help them with various other tasks too, such as cleaning and meal preparation.