5 breathing exercise you can do with your kids to prevent Happy Hypoxemia

The onset COVID-19 pandemic is affecting millions. The first wave harmed the senior population, the second wave took a hit on young adults and it is being speculated that the third wave is going to affect children and infants. There are a lot of problems that stem from this disease and one such effect is hypoxemia. It is a condition where there is an absence of oxygen in the cells to perform bodily functions.

There is a rise in hypoxemia cases because of the pandemic. COVID is mainly a respiratory disease and the lack of oxygen can worsen the situation. Happy Hypoxemia is also known as silent hypoxemia is a situation where the patients do not show any symptoms of breathlessness till there is a significant drop in the oxygen levels. This is more common in kids because of their playful nature and the condition can go undetected till it's too late.

Breathing exercises are a great way to increase lung capacity and reduce the chances of breathlessness. Here are some breathing exercises you can do with your kids and help them increase their lung capacity:

A great breathing exercise is to inhale with your nose and pout with your lips while exhaling. The exhale should be twice as long as the inhale. A great way to help your kids do this exercise is to ask them to pursue their lips like they are blowing a bubble. You can do this with your kids and make it a competition.

Ask your child to lay down on the bed and put a pillow on their belly. Encourage them to take a deep breath while you count to 10. Ask them to focus on the pillow on their belly and see how it moves up and down as they inhale and exhale. If you have two or more children you can time them and make a game out of this exercise.

It is a great exercise to increase lung capacity that our children often do without even noticing. Make sure your kids are sitting on a chair, ask them to hum their favourite song with their mouths closed. You can even ask them to close their eyes and ears and just focus on the song. This will not only help increase their lung capacity but also is a great exercise to calm themselves when they feel anxious.

Take a sheet of paper, some watercolours and a straw. Spill the watercolours in a concentrated area on the sheet of paper and ask them to blow on it with the help of a straw. This is not only a great breathing exercise but it is also a fun activity that you can do on a rainy day when you have to stay in.

A great breathing exercise is to ask your little one to take a deep breath as if taking in the fragrance of their favourite food or their favourite perfume. It helps in increasing the lung capacity and is a fun way to interact with their sense.