Breathing. It is one thing none of us can do without.

“It is the first act of life – we breathe,” said Dr. Karyn Staples, PT, PhD, NCPT of ProHealth Physical Therapy and Pilates Studio in Peachtree City. “It’s also the last thing we do before we pass away. The respiratory system is the foundation.”

Between the first and last breath, there are millions of others that are important. Whether in athletic endeavors or just everyday life, proper breathing is a vital part of the overall health of the entire body.

It is a good idea to be aware of various things that could impede lung function and know how to deal with them. Some, like smoking, are simply to be avoided. For others, like allergies or asthma, it is best to know what some of the triggers are and be sure to have the appropriate tools in place to deal with them.

Where does one’s breath come from? The foundation is the diaphragm, which attaches in the lower part of the rib cage and sits like an upside-down umbrella. It is “the main muscle of inspiration,” as Staples put it. Breathing from the diaphragm is the starting point for effective respiratory control. People who are trained to sing or play certain musical instruments are well aware of this.

Each of us has a certain capacity to take in a certain amount of air and then breathe out a certain amount. Ideally in normal breathing, you should be able to inhale and let your rib cage expand two inches, Staples said, and then exhale the same amount.

The next step is to improve one’s endurance by breathing correctly during various activities. When walking, having a conversation or participating in an athletic endeavor, breathing should always be happening. Your breath control should be such that you are not holding your breath during any part of a regular activity.

Trained physical therapists will often put a patient under a special type of physical stress, such as being on their hands and knees or in a plank or squat, to help train the body to use the diaphragm properly and continue breathing.

“When you are pushed to a limit as in an athletic activity, you have no other choice but to breathe correctly. Otherwise you’re going to just be gassed and have nothing left,” said Staples. “On the other end of that spectrum, people who are not very fit or have back pain probably are not breathing properly as well. It is all about starting to use the right muscles, then using them more efficiently to improve endurance as your body stops trying to compensate in other ways.”

There are a number of issues that can contribute to breathing efficiency, from cracked ribs and muscle cramps to poor spinal alignment or a simple case of nasal congestion. Other more permanent causes include enlarged tonsils and adenoids that affect what comes up and down the trachea and through the throat.

“Bottom line, as long as someone is alive, they are breathing fairly OK,” said Staples. “But there are ways to be more efficient at it and know what the breath pattern should be.”

ProHealth Physical Therapy and Pilates Studio is located at 1777 Georgian Park in Peachtree City. for more information or to book an appointment, phone 770-487-1931 or visit prohealthga.com.