Pain when inhaling can have a number of different causes, not always a disease of the bronchial tubes or the lungs must be connected with it. As part of the treatment, specific stretching and strengthening exercises as well as certain breathing exercises can bring about a significant improvement in the symptoms for those affected. Due to the threat of pain associated with breathing, many affected people often think of serious illnesses and become so panicky that the symptoms become even worse.
- Flu-like infections, which mainly affect the respiratory tract, are among the most common causes of breathing pain.
- In worse cases, pneumonia or pulmonary embolism can also be the trigger for the pain when breathing.
- Chronic diseases such as asthma and COPD may also cause pain when inhaled.
- However, lung independent problems can also cause pain when inhaled. These include, for example, contusions in the area of the chest, tense muscles, pinched rib nerves or blocked vertebrae. Especially the latter can often be treated conservatively by performing specific exercises.
Exercises for at home
Breathe out completely and then keep mouth and nose closed. Now pretend you are breathing in. This creates a vacuum in the lungs, which causes the diaphragm to tense up and thus relieve surrounding tension.
Inhale as deeply as possible and then breathe out all the air as quickly as possible. This exercise stretches the diaphragm so that there is more room to breathe. Lie on your back and stretch your arms out to the side.
Now roll your arms and shoulders towards the floor so that the shoulder blades lift off the floor. Breathe out while doing so. Then roll your arms and shoulders up and breathe in.
The shoulder blades are pressed into the floor. Lie on your back and place your hands on top of each other, first on the left ribcage, so that the lower finger is at the bottom of the ribs. Now breathe in consciously and press on the ribs with your hands as you exhale.
Change sides after 10 breathing rounds. Use your fingers to find the point that hurts when breathing in. Then press on it and breathe in and out a few times until the pain improves.
Proceed in the same way with the other pain points. Breathe in and inflate your stomach as much as possible. Let it flatten again as you exhale.
10 repetitions. Stretch your arms first forward and then upwards and breathe in deeply. Hold the tension for a few seconds and then let your arms fall towards the floor and breathe out audibly.
More exercises can be found here:
- Breathing exercises
- Exercises for asthma
- COPD – exercises from physiotherapy
- Breathe out completely and then keep mouth and nose closed. Now pretend you are breathing in. This creates a vacuum in the lungs, which causes the diaphragm to tense up and thus relieve surrounding tension.
- Breathe in as deeply as possible and then breathe out all air as quickly as possible.
This exercise stretches the diaphragm so that there is more room to breathe.
- Lie on your back and stretch your arms out to the side. Now roll your arms and shoulders towards the floor so that the shoulder blades lift off the floor. Breathe out.
Then roll your arms and shoulders up and breathe in. The shoulder blades are pressed into the floor.
- Lie on your back and place your hands on top of each other, first on the left costal arch so that the lower finger is at the bottom of the ribs. Now breathe in consciously and press on the ribs with your hands as you exhale.
Change sides after 10 breathing rounds.
- Use your fingers to find the point that hurts when you breathe in. Then press them and breathe in and out a few times until the pain improves. Proceed in the same way with the other pain points.
- Breathe in and inflate your stomach as far as possible.
Let it flatten again when you exhale. Repeat 10 times.
- Stretch your arms first forward and then upwards and breathe deeply. Hold the tension for a few seconds and then let your arms fall towards the floor and breathe out audibly.
All articles in this series:
