Medical disclaimer
If you are having a medical emergency — severe or sudden breathlessness, chest pain, blue lips, confusion, fainting — call your local emergency number. Do not do a breathing exercise.
General information only
The content on Breathe is general educational information about breathing techniques. It is not medical advice, does not take account of your individual circumstances, and no clinician-patient relationship is created by using this site.
Talk to a professional first if…
You should check with a doctor, physiotherapist or other qualified clinician before using breathing exercises, particularly those involving breath-holding or fast breathing, if you:
- are pregnant;
- have a heart condition, or high or low blood pressure that is not well controlled;
- have a lung condition such as COPD, asthma or pulmonary hypertension;
- have epilepsy or a history of seizures;
- have glaucoma or recently had eye surgery;
- have a history of fainting;
- have panic disorder, PTSD or a dissociative disorder — controlled breathing can occasionally trigger symptoms;
- are recovering from surgery or an acute illness.
Stop if it feels wrong
Dizziness, light-headedness, tingling in the hands or face, visual changes, chest tightness or rising panic all mean: stop, breathe normally, and sit or lie down. These are usually harmless effects of changing your carbon dioxide level, but they are a clear signal that the technique or the pace is not right for you today.
Not a treatment
Breathing exercises are a useful self-help tool. They are not a treatment for anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, insomnia, hypertension, asthma, COPD or chronic pain, and they are not a reason to delay or stop treatment your clinician has recommended. Never change or stop prescribed medication on the basis of anything you read here.
Mental health
If you are struggling — panic attacks that keep coming back, anxiety that does not lift, thoughts of harming yourself — please talk to a doctor or a crisis line in your country. These are common and treatable, and a breathing exercise is a coping tool while you get proper support, not a replacement for it.
Children
The slow techniques here are generally fine for children with adult supervision. Fast-paced breathing (Energising Breath) and long breath-holds are not recommended for children.