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:  continued answer about breathing

ANSWER:   Changes in rate and depth of respiration produce changes in the quantity and the types of peptides (short amino acid chains) that are released from the brain stem. By consciously altering breathing, peptides can diffuse rapidly through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), in many cases acting to restore homeostasis. In a type of reversible reaction, peptide changes in the brain stem alter breathing. Hyperventilation (very fast breathing) such as 25 to 30 breaths per minute can create unhealthy biochemical changes as well as unhealthy heart rhythm changes. Slower breathing, such as eight to twelve breaths per minute creates healthy changes. Diaphragmatic breathing is almost always healthier than shallow chest breathing.

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.