How to Strengthen Your Lungs

If you are living with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as emphysema, asthma, bronchitis or another breathing problem, you may be looking for ways to strengthen your lungs to help you breathe easier. You may also be looking for exercises for the lungs if you are a runner, a swimmer, or if you participate in aerobic activity and need more stamina. Simple breathing techniques can increase the strength of your lungs.

Participate in aerobic activities. Do an aerobic activity such as walking, dancing, biking or swimming at least five days a week for 30 to 60 minutes each time. For best results, do a variety of activities, as each one works your body differently. When you do cardiovascular exercise, you strengthen the muscles that surround your lungs, as they must work harder to supply your body with oxygen. With time, your respiratory system becomes more efficient. You will notice after a few weeks that you will not get as out of breath climbing stairs or walking uphill. Like any muscle in your body, when you exercise your respiratory muscles, they get stronger.

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Do a daily deep breathing exercise. Deep breathing exercises strengthen your lungs. During aerobic exercise, deep breathing challenges your lungs to work harder to process the extra air you are taking in. As you inhale through your nose, allow the stomach to move outwards. This allows the diaphragm muscle to drop down so that the lungs can fully expand. Exhale through the nose, and let the stomach move inwards. This will make the diaphragm muscle contract, which will assist the lungs in pushing the air out. If you have sinus or respiratory issues, you can inhale through the nose and exhale through pursed lips. Aim for 10 to 15 minutes of deep breathing each day, and focus on making each breath a little deeper and a little slower.

Add resistance. To strengthen your lungs further, do your deep breathing exercise against some kind of resistance. If you have a stretchy exercise band, wrap the band around your chest and hold it with your hands, so it is snug around you. As you inhale, your lung muscles will have to push against the band to expand. Exhale slowly. Or rest a light ankle weight on your chest and one on your belly and try to move the weights as you inhale and exhale.

Tips

Doing the deep breathing exercise may feel awkward at first, as there is a tendency to pull the stomach muscles in when you inhale. With practice, this style of breathing will become more natural.

Warnings

Start slowly, and build up to 10 to 15 minutes a day, especially if you are using resistance, to avoid making your respiratory muscles sore.