The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-01
BREATH CONTROL FOR THE
ASTHMATfC

know how to 60 about it in making
the change. When one is asked Ia
take deep breath, he invariably
raises the chest and attempts Il
expand the ribs which apparently
fills the upper chest with air. This
may be called chest breathing, and
is wholly unnatural and really harm
full in certain ways.
If you will watch an animal, such
as the horse, when he breathes, you
will sec that the breathing b dokc
in the upper part Of the abdomen,
and that there is practically no
movement of the chest or Of the
lower abdomen. Every successful
athlete either unconsciously
breathes this way or has developed
the diaphragmatic breathing
through practice.
If you will stand sidcwise be-
fore mirror YOU can watch your
faulty breathing and practice how
to correct it. Remove all Of your
clothing and stand so you can watch
the entire torso, from the pelvis to
the chin. When you inhale you
will probably notice that the chest
gets larger in the upper part. the
upper abdomen smaller, and lower
down the belly will protrudc. This
gives you sort of hour-glass ap-
pearancc, which is all wrong.
! Now try, when YOU inhale, to
make your abdomen larger just be-
low the ribs. Imagine you are
IL 80, ,,,%.. ~
domen, swelling it out and keeping
the lower part from protruding.
The position Of the ribs should
change but slightly; and no move
ment should be noticed in the upper
chest. After you have inhaled, en-
hale slowly. contracting the upper
abdomen and holding the entire alb
domcn rigid, not allowing the lower
part to protrude.
] suggest that you clip OH. these
directions and try to fellow them
tonight when you are undressed just
before going to bed. Keep on prac-
ticing until You can do all Of Your
breathing with the upper par. Of
the abdomen. just below the ster-
mum and ribs. In this. way you
will learn to develop diphragn.-
attic muscle, which you must do in
order to be healthy and to complete.
ly overcome asthma.
If you do not seem to get the idea
at first, go outdoors and take a
short run up and down the yard,
then rest and place your hands on
various portions Of your chest and
abdomen and you will notice that
you naturally breathe hardest in
the diaphragmatic section. For
practice, just keep up this same
breathing, and if you again forget
how, take another run and again
make a careful examination to see
where the most contraction and ex-
pansion occurs.
After the asthmatic has properly
trained the diaphragm, he will find
that the practice Of singing will be
q pleasing way to keen the dia-
phragmatic muscle properly ex-
ercised. Any GO d singing
teacher understands the neces-
sity for breath control, and
will give the pupil exercises
through the practice OF sing
ing. A strong resonant speaking
voice can be thus developed.
The tone Of the asthmatic or tu-
bcrcular voice is always very poor,
due to the tight diaphragm which
always exists. The cure of either
one of these disorders cannot be
accomplished. without the develop
ment Of a normal diaphragm.
l will be glad to send my readers
an article written recently on
breath control. If you want this
article, write to me care Of the
Tribune, and ask for the article
Breath Control" 1t will be sent
to you by return mail.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions: A. P. s. writes:
II would like to know if there is
anything wrong with my tongue;
all my friends say that when l talk
lisp. Is thee anything ! can DO
to cure this ?"
Answer: l cannot very we'll
examine your tongue by correspond
ence. The lisr may be due to a
tonguc-tied condition, or to the po-
| SAeOA VI yOuA tC~LIt pOcoAOAy Vic
lower front teeth. If you have had
dental work done recently you may
find the lisp caused by a change Of
position Of some Of your teeth. If
this is the cause you will soon get
over it.
questions: Mrs. X. r. r. asks:
"Whas foods contain sulphur?
have heard that sulphur -ndS to
make the hair gray"
Answer: Such foods as the
yolks Of eggs, onions, CARL, cab
bagc and cauliflower contain the
largest amounts of sulphur. It is
wise to use a sonable amount of
the egg yolk, but have found
that mos persons cannot use the
other foods l have mentioned be-
cause Of the tendency of the sulphur
to produce excessive gas. Gray
hair doubtless co.Aes on from some
form of faulty metabolisr and the
throwing out of large amounts Of
sulphur dioxide through the rorcs
may be responsible for bleaching
the hair coloring.
| Question:: F. B. writes: II
have severe attacks of heartburn
after meals. ! would like to know
what causes this and how to get rid
Of it."
| Answers: Heartburn simply
means .over-acidity Of the gastric
juice, and is caused by rad combina-
tions Of foods. wrong kinds Of foods,