So I read on the internet this morning about a tv actress who really really likes climbing mountains. Not exactly my thing, but she was reporting having reached the base camp at Mt Everest at 17,700 feet, without the aid of oxygen.
She said her guide, another gal, discovered she could climb in those very high altitudes by practicing a breathing technique where as you hike, you breath in very deeply, then release it forcefully as if you were blowing out a candle on the other side of the room. She said that allowed the lungs to open up and make the best use of the very thin, unavailable oxygen at 17,000+ feet..
That's a bit different from the "pursed lip" thing I've been taught to do. But I wondered if the same technique would/could apply to emphysema addicts?
Well, when working in my garden this afternoon I got really short of breath. Probably de-sat to around 79 or 80 sort of short of breath..
As I was sitting, recovering, my wife suggested I try the technique described. I don't know if it worked or not because after two inhale/exhales I found I could breath well enough to go water the rest of the plants.
I'll test it some more, but I don't think I'll be climbing Mt. Everest anytime soon.