Chronic Illness Q&A with Dr. B.

The purpose of this blog and the entire website is to provide evidence-based information on how to live a vibrant, meaningful life while living with chronic health challenges or other life challenges.

Dr. Larry Berkelhammer

Every Tuesday I post a new, very brief video from my presentations or interviews. Every Friday this Q&A column appears.

Here is this week’s question:

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:  more of my answer about breathing

ANSWER:   Resonant frequency breathing is a type of respiratory sinus arrhythmia(RSA) breathing, but it is done at approximately six breaths per minute with some minor variations depending on a person’s size. The resonant frequency of each of us refers to the natural rhythm of fluctuations in other biological functions such as heart rate(HR), blood pressure (BP), cerebral perfusion, and other measures. At resonant frequency, the synchronization is the rhythm of each function resonating with all of the other functions, thereby mutually reinforcing each other.

Although resonant frequency breathing is a practice that brings forth the harmonization of biological rhythms for health, researchers have found that twenty minutes a day is optimum, and that breathing that way all day would actually reduce heart rate variability. Resonant frequency breathing has been used to control both HR and rhythm. It also serves to quiet sympathetic drive, regulate BP, and correct acid-base imbalances.

Also, RSA can enhance mindfulness practice because it makes it possible to consciously correlate every subtle change in breathing rate and rhythm with changes in cognition and emotion. In addition, because the act of breathing involves communication with all the neuropeptides, it is one of the ways we can enhance psychophysiological functioning.

This website is offered as a free public service, supplying information that has been found helpful to certain people living with chronic health challenges or issues related to wellbeing. No treatment is offered on this website. The advice is general, and may or may not apply to your individual situation, and is not a substitute for psychotherapy or medical treatment.

What questions do you have about living a life of mindfulness-based mastery or about the relationship between the mind and health or wellbeing?

Just scroll down and type your question in the comment box below. An answer to your specific question may not appear in this column. The reason for that is I wait until I get a certain number of related questions, then I pick one that covers them all and I answer that one. People attending my presentations asked most of the questions appearing in this column, and I repeat them here so you may benefit.