CASES WE SEE
Hyperventilation
Asthma
COVID-19
COPD
Sarcoidosis
Chronic bronchitis
Pneumonia
Chronic cough
Low oxygen
Low CO2
MORE INFO
The natural breathing can be hijacked by stress over time. Volitional breathing behaviors, leading to CO2 depletion, cause airway resistance, inflammation, effort in breathing, and respiratory problems.
WHAT WE DO
We offer specialized intervention using cardiorespiratory biofeedback. Our goal is to help you restore and improve the quality of your breathing, reduce symptom severity, and improve quality of life. We offer a revolutionary preventative and no-invasive intervention for respiratory function.
What Is Breathing Science?
Breathing science is the study of how respiration, gas exchange, and nervous system regulation impact human health, performance, and longevity. It integrates principles of respiratory physiology, neuroscience, and biofeedback to optimize oxygen utilization, CO2 balance, and autonomic function. Unlike traditional breathwork practices that focuses on relaxation or energy control, breathing science is data-driven, measurable, and corrective, addressing the root causes of dysfunctional breathing patterns and physiological disturbances.
Understanding The Effects of Diordered Breathing
Chronic silent hyperventilation-often overlooked because it can occur without obvious symptoms-refers to a subtle but persistent state of over-breathing. Although individuals may not notice they are breathing more than necessary, this inadequate breathing pattern can disrupt the delicate balance of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the bloodstream. Over time, these imbalances may contribute to a host of health issues, from heightened stress response, compromised lung function, to medically unexplained shortness of breath. Poor breathing habits stresses the body, altering all organ systems and compromising health.
The Hidden Impact of Dysfunctional Breathing on The Lungs
Breathing is the most fragile system in the body. Emotions, memories, traumatic events, and chronic stress can disrupt the body's natural respiratory mechanics, leading to poor lung function, inefficient oxygen exchange, and long-term respiratory complications.
Breathing is unique because it is one human system that has the capacity to affect all other systems at once, thus compromising health and aggravating other existing respiratory conditions. Breathing behaviors, patterns learned and reinforced by chronic stress, is an area of medicine and rehabilitation that is often overlooked.
When breathing patterns are chronically dysfunctional, the lungs become effective at oxygenating the body, and the heart pump weakens, overall affecting lung compliance and blood circulation. Dyfunctional breathing can result in CO2 imbalance, contributing to a range of health issues, including respiratory distress, inflammation, reduced lung capacity, and increase the effort of breathing.
Low CO2 (hypocapnia) Effect On Respiratory System
Decreased Oxygen
Breathlessness
Air Hunger
Airway Resistance
Atypical Ashtma
Broncospasm
Cough Syndrome
Fatigue
Lung Injury
Respiratory Failure
Key Effects Of Disordered Breathing on The Lungs
1. REDUCED LUNG EFFICIENCY & OXYGEN UPTAKE
Shallow, rapid breathing (oral or nasal) leads to poor alveolar ventilation, meaning oxygen isn't efficiently trasnferred into the bloodstream
CO2 depletion (hypocapnia) from over-breathing reduces the oxygen release to the tissues (Bohr Effect Dysfunction), creating systemic oxygen deprivation.
2. AIRWAY INSTABILITY
Dysfunctional breathing trigger upper airway narrowing, making it harder for air to flow in and out smoothly.
Dysfunctional breathing and low CO2 levels cause bronchial constriction, increasing the risk of asthma, breathlessness, and airway hypersensitivity.
Dysfunctional oral breathing bypasses the nose's filtration system, leading to higher susceptibility to respiratory infections, and it can aggravate existing pulmonary conditions.
3. INCREASE RESPIRATORY EFFORT & FATIGUE
Overuse of secondary breathing muscles (neck, shoulders, and chest) creates inefficient, energy-wasting breathing patterns.
Increased lung dynamic hyperinflation, respiratory behaviors, contributes to unexplained shortness of breath, air-hunger, or difficulty taking a deep breath. The use of accessory muscles creates an unwanted state of arousal, triggering anxiety, irritability, increased heart rate. This makes breathing feel labored and exhausting.
4. LUNG INFLAMMATION & MUCUS PRODUCTION
Over-breathing and CO2 depletion can trigger chronic inflammation of the lungs, worsening conditions like asthma, COPD, and chronic bronchitis.
Dysfunctional breathing can cause excess mucus production, leading to airway obstruction and a higher risk for infections.
Low CO2 lowers ;surfactant in the lungs, lowering the body's immune system and decreasing its defences to fight pathogens like virus, bacteria, and parasites.
5. DECREASE LUNG CAPACITY & ELASTICITY
Shallow breathing prevents full lung expansion, leading to stiffness in lung tissue and reduced tidal volume (the amount of air taken in per breath).
Over time, lung function declines, making it harder to take deep, nourishing breaths.
Decrease lung capacity with paradoxical diaphragm and excessive recruitment of accessory muscles can alter the normal functions of the nervous system, triggering unfounded anxiety, air-hunger, and incresed recurrent symptom severity.
6. INCREASED RISK OF RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS
Chronic disordered breathing, with low CO2 levels, is linked to asthma (stress-induced, exertion-induced), sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Poor breathing mechanics and breath holding patterns contribute to sensation of breathlessness, lowering oxygen saturation, leading to fatigue, dizziness, and cognitive fog.
Low CO2 and dysfunctional breathing patterns causes blood vessels to constrict, decreasing the heart pump (cardiac output), decreasing blood flow, decreasing tissue perfusion to the extremities, giving potentially erroneous readings in oxygen saturation.
Dysfunctional breathing and low CO2 increases oxygen demand while decreasing oxygen delivery. Respiratory rate increases and dysfunctional breathing is aggravated. Physiological anxiety evolves and affects any and all respiratory conditions, including all other systems of the body.
Why Is CO2 The Foundation of Optimal Breathing
CO2 is often misunderstood as a mere "waste gas," but in reality, it is the very key regulator of oxygen delivery, nervous system stability, and cellular function.
Oxygen Delivery Depends on CO2 Regulation- The right amount of CO2 allows the hemoglobin to release oxygen efficiently to the brain, muscles, and organs.
CO2 Controls Nervous System Balance- It modulates the autonomic nervous system, shifting between stress (sympathetic) and recovery (parasympathetic) states.
CO2 Prevents Airway Instability- Low CO2 causes airway constriction, poor circulation, and unstable upper aiway tissue compromise.
CO2 Influences pH & Blood Flow- Maintaining optimal CO2 level stabilizes blood pH, preventing symptoms like unexplained breathlessness, air-hunger, anxiety, depression, excessive yawning, dizziness, chronic fatigue, exhaustion, muscle tension, muscle pain, sleep disturbances, disorientation, confusion, muscle weakness, heart rhythm irregularities, concentration and memory problems.
Correcting CO2 depletion is the most powerful physiological intervention for breathing dysfunction and nervous system dysregulation.
Key Differences Between Respiras Breathing Science & Other Breath Work Practices
While traditional breathwork has benefits for relaxation and mindfulness, Respiras is an extension of occupational therapy with focus on pulmonary care and respiratory health. Respiras Breathing corrects dysfunctional patterns at a physiological level- making it essential for stress adaptation, resiliency, and flexibility needed for everyday life performance.
Unlike common breathing techniques that encourage deep breathing, Respiras Breathing science teaches precise methods to correct CO2 levels, restore respiratory function, and enhance metabolic efficiency. A key component is the model of human adaptation in occupational therapy, combining physiology and skills for stress adaptation.
We acknowledge and respect other breathing practices serve a meaningful purpose to each individual depending on their specific needs.
1. Traditional Breathwork Methods
Induces altered states, and it is limited to relaxation, or energy flow.
Often based on spiritual, meditative, or energetic practices.
Used for stress relief, emotional relief, and coping strategies.
May involve hyperventilation, fast-paced breathing, deep inhalations, breath holding patterns, or altered nostril breathing
May temporarily alter consciousness but does not always address dysfunctional breathing patterns.
Taught liberally, it does not take into account existing obstructive or restrictive lung diseases and does not discern the impact of lung dynamic hyperinflation effect on the body. This can create evolving and recurrent mystery symptoms and health conditions.
May offer temporary tension relief, slowing down respiratory patterns, and relaxing the autonomic nervous system, but can create inadvertant faulty hidden respiratory patterns that create anxiety, depression, irritability, defensiveness, and anger.
Believes deep and low breathing are synonymous with good oxygenation and calming state. Fails to recognize the potential harmful effect of deep breathing, causing CO2 depletion, leading to respiratory alkalosis, leading to oxygen starvation, cellular stress, and brain hypoxia- temporarily altering the cognitive state into dissociation or disconnectedness.
Relies on static breathing practice involving slow paced breathing patterns.
Does not consider the precise regulation of CO2 balance, adaptive tidal volume, and physiological stability.
2. Respiras Pulmonary-Based Breathing Method
Focuses on correcting CO2 balance & oxygen efficiency to optimize physiology and the proper functioning of the cells.
Rooted on respiratory physiology, Bohr Effect, Henderson & Hasselbalch equation of balancing pH, optimizing the proper release of oxygen for cellular function, and improving nervous system regulation.
Used for functional occupational performance (physical, mental, emotional), and stress adaptation, to increase calm energy, focus, and endurance.
Encourages a systematic way of improving respiratory patterns using guided biometrics for CO2 regulation to improve acid-base balance. Discourages lung dynamic hyperinflation with forced expirations that lead to physiological stress.
Therapeutic & corrective for breathing disorders, sleep problems, pain management, and nervous system health. Respiras trains breathing to be a permanent skill to improve health, wellness, and performance.
Acknowledges the potential presence of respiratory, cardiac, and other organic diseases. Encourages proper medical assessment to rule out major organic pathology. Addresses each person individually and considers pre-existing medical conditions.
Solution-based focus to create permanent results. Strong emphasis on self-regulation for adaptive physiology (the ability to maintain physiological stability to support all daily activities).
Avoids the potential harmful effect of deep breathing, causing CO2 depletion, leading to respiratory alkalosis, leading to oxygen starvation and brain hypoxia- temporarily altering the cognitive state into dissociation or disconnectedness.
Encourages respiratory variability, which is CO2 balance regardless of breathing depth or rate, in accordance to moment to moment situations, multi-tasking, stress adaptation, and resiliency training. Acknowledges respiratory science and
Focus on CO2 regulation from a multi-sensory approach involving all senses, cardio-pulmonary capacity, postural retraining, motor coordination, vestibular, oculo-motor coordination, and functional mobility.
What is Silent Hyperventilation?
Definition: Chronic silent hyperventilation (sometimes called "hidden hyperventilation") is a condition where you breathe slighlty faster or deeper than required, leading to excessive CO2 depletion.
Common Misconception: Many people associate hyperventilation with obvious panting or breathlessness. However, "silent" hyperventilation can be subtle, making it harder to detect.
Breathing imbalance: The mode of breathing, as a learned behavior, is typically not addressed in conventional medicine and rehabilitation. It is an area that is overlooked. Breathing quality is mistakenly assumed by the level of oxygen saturation or the absence of asthma symptoms.
Breathing Science and Carbon Dioxide Training With Capnography Biofeedback
Breathing is more than just an automatic function- it's a powerful tool that can be optimized for better health, performance, and well-being. In recent years, breathing science has shed new light on the importance of carbon dioxide training and the role of capnographic biofeedback in improving respiratory function and CO2 tolerance.
Good breathing, from a scientific viewpoint, is the proper balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. When this equilibrium is affected by behaviors or habits, the body suffers from physiological stress. Improper breathing habits, causing CO2 depletion, have been involved in unexplained symptoms ranging from breathing problems, fatigue, anxiety, headaches, and concentration deficits just to name a few.
Breathing-Anxiety Connection
While anxiety can affect breathing, a desynchronized breathing habit can cause unfounded anxiety.
Although conventional therapies consider anxiety to be purely psychological, long-standing medical research shows that distressed physiology, caused by unstable breathing, can result in anxiety, fear, worry, and panic (Gilbert, 1999). Unfortunately, many people, consider anxiety to be normal. At Respiras it is our firm belief that anxiety is an equal opportunity destroyer that will create unnecessary obstacles in your health, relationships, school, career, business, and overall life satisfaction.
A good CO2 balance is the most powerful relaxer in the body occurring naturally. It has no risk of creating dependence or any other long-term side effects. Our goal is to give you skills to optimize your breathing so you can be energized, calm, peaceful, and confident- even under stress.
Natural Solutions | Prioritizing Healthy Breathing For Overall Wellness
Breathing dysfunction or chronic silent hyperventilation often flies under the radar, but its long-term effects can be significant enough to cause disability. By retraining your breathing patterns and correcting the CO2 imbalance, you can improve your breathing quality, increase energy, enhance oxygen flow, and improve overall well-being.
If you suspect you may be silenlty hyperventilating, consider seeking professional guidance to develop a tailored plan for breathing optimization using our training system designed to create permanent and sustainable results.
How To Correct Disordered Breathing for Lung Health
Breathing mechanics training- Muscle coordination retraining to improve the functions of the diaphragm and reduce faulty muscle recruitment that lead increased effort of breathing.
Nasal breathing restoration- Encourages natural filtration and humidification of air for better lung function.
Respiratory biofeedback for CO2 optimization and CO2 self-regulation training- Corrects over-breathing patterns and improves oxygen efficiency. Designed to maintain CO2 stability in the 35-45 mmHg range regardless of deep, shallow, fast, or slow breathing patterns. Create CO2 balance as a permanent physiological regulation to support all daily activities.