Diseases of the chest breathing

Chest breathing can be unnaturally strong or frequent as a result of illness. – If breathing is difficult (dyspnoea), the proportion of thoracic breathing increases and that of abdominal breathing decreases. If breathing is extremely difficult (orthopnea), the respiratory muscles are also used.

People who suffer from orthopnea often sit upright, have their arms supported and breathe heavily. Such respiratory distress can be caused by a wide variety of factors. On the one hand, there are diseases of the lungs such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary embolism or pneumonia.

However, heart complaints such as cardiac insufficiency, heart valve defects or heart attacks can also lead to these conditions. – If abdominal breathing is impaired, increased chest breathing takes over its function. This can be the case, for example, with swelling of the liver or spleen, but also in pregnancy or severe overweight (obesity).

However, increased breast breathing can also be a sign of psychological problems. For example, it occurs during rapid, deep breathing (hyperventilation). This can be a sign of panic attacks or anxiety disorders.

An increase in thoracic breathing is sometimes also seen in depression. Since chest breathing is used by the body mainly for high demands, such as stress, it can also be a sign of a high level of stress. Since severe pain also causes stress, chest breathing also increases in this case.

However, chest breathing can also be directly affected by a disease. This is the case, for example, when the muscles required for chest breathing are very tense. If the chest breathing is excessively strained under a lot of stress, this can overstrain the muscles and make them tense.

In addition, skeletal malformations, poor posture and lack of movement can lead to tension. These can sometimes be very painful and even lead to a feeling of breathlessness. Targeted movement, strengthening of the musculature and relaxation techniques help in these cases.

This form of breathing is also restricted if the muscles involved in chest breathing are damaged. Thus, muscle weaknesses (muscle atrophies) also spread to these muscles. – A muscle can also regress if the nerve that normally supplies it fails.

The main muscles of thoracic breathing, the outer intercostal muscles, are supplied by many nerves (Nervi intercostales). If only one fails, the neighbouring nerves take over the supply of the affected muscles. However, if several nerves are affected, breathing problems can occur.

What’s the diaphragmatic breathing?

Diaphragmatic breathing (diaphragmatic malbreathing, abdominal breathing) is a form of breathing. It is characterized by the contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm. During diaphragmatic breathing, the abdominal wall rises and falls visibly.

The diaphragm contracts for inhalation. This causes it to shift downwards. The pleura, which has grown together with it, follows this movement.

This creates a negative pressure in the space between the lung and the diaphragm. Following this negative pressure, the lung expands and air flows in. The lung has a constant tendency to contract (inherent elasticity).

Following this self-elasticity, it shrinks again as soon as the diaphragm relaxes. The diaphragm shifts upwards in the body. At rest, abdominal breathing performed a large part of the breathing. It is supported by the second form of breathing, abdominal breathing. You can find detailed information on our main page: Diaphragmatic breathing