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Smoking and Lung Conditions Increase Risk of Dysfunctional Breathing

Smoking and Lung Conditions Increase Risk of Dysfunctional Breathing

Update: 2025-12-24
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Description

  • More than one in 10 adults experience dysfunctional breathing symptoms like air hunger and chest tightness, even without having diagnosed lung disease
  • People who currently smoke, or have a history of smoking and respiratory illness, face a dramatically higher risk of developing dysfunctional breathing patterns
  • Dysfunctional breathing leads to overuse of neck and chest muscles, creating tension, fatigue, and shallow breathing that feeds a vicious cycle of stress and exhaustion
  • Poor breathing habits interfere with heart function by reducing heart rate variability and disrupting the body's natural balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide
  • Smoking worsens immune function, promotes oxidative stress, and triggers long-term biological changes that increase your risk for cancer, chronic illness, and dysfunctional breathing
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Smoking and Lung Conditions Increase Risk of Dysfunctional Breathing

Smoking and Lung Conditions Increase Risk of Dysfunctional Breathing

Dr. Joseph Mercola