Improve Lung Health: Breathing Exercises & Oxygen Levels

How can breathing exercises and monitoring oxygen with a pulse oximeter improve your lung capacity? Whether recovering from smoking or managing lung nodules, deep breathing is essential for vitality.

Portrait of a relaxed autumn mature woman breathing deep

Breathing Exercises to Increase Oxygen Rate

Published Aug,14 2017 | By Debby Mayne

Although breathing is a natural body function, some people need to learn how to do it properly. Oxygen levels can drop 20 percent as we age, according to the University of Missouri-Kansas City, partially due to poor breathing habits. Shallow breathing can cause a person to become dizzy, lightheaded, tense and tired.

Debby Mayne started writing professionally in 1992. Her work has appeared in regional parenting magazines and she has been managing editor of the magazine, "Coping with Cancer." She was also fashion product information writer for HSN. During college, Mayne worked as an instructor at a fitness center. She holds a Bachelor of Science in health, PE and recreation from the University of Southern Mississippi.