The Oxygen Advantage: The Simple, Scientifically Proven Breathing Techniques for a Healthier, Slimmer, Faster, and Fitter You

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The Oxygen Advantage: The Simple, Scientifically Proven Breathing Techniques for a Healthier, Slimmer, Faster, and Fitter You Page 33

by Patrick McKeown


  Doug’s case, 10–11

  heart disease and, 202–4, 205–6

  impact of, 4–5

  quiz to determine, 3–4

  reduced blood flow and, 27–28

  Concentrated and undivided mind, 161–65

  Concentration, 141–45, 148–49, 152–53

  Breathing Recovery Exercise, 166–67, 248

  “going with the flow,” 140–43

  mindfulness meditation, 146–47

  observing your thoughts, 149–52

  Cooldown, 91

  Corrado, Domenico, 322n

  Cortisone, 98

  Cottle, Maurice, 55–56

  Couch potato lifestyle, 231, 232–33

  Coughs (coughing), 11, 41, 118, 124, 211, 218

  Craniofacial anomalies, 226–27, 229

  Crawford, Lavell, 68

  Croke Park Arena (Dublin), 8

  Cruz, Joaquim, 121–22

  Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly, 141

  Cunningham, Patrick, 221

  Cycling, 17–18, 29–30, 135–36, 190

  breath holding during, 130, 252

  Tour de France and blood doping, 96–99

  Cystic fibrosis, 298–99n

  D

  Dark chocolate, 197

  Darley Arabian (horse), 221

  Darwin, Charles, 54

  Davis, Wade, 81

  Decker, Mary, 121–22

  Deep breaths, 18, 21, 52, 69–70

  Deer, breathing in, 55

  Defibrillation, 201

  Dehydration, preventing with nasal breathing, 119–20

  De Oliveira, Valério Luiz, 121–22

  Depression, 147, 181, 185

  Detoxification. See Body detoxification

  Detraining, 191–92

  Diabetes, 174–75, 232

  Diaphragm, 71–74, 110–11

  relaxing and activating, 257–58

  Diet. See also Weight loss

  alkaline- vs. acid-forming foods, 52–53, 177–79

  appetite suppression and, 173–74, 175, 177

  chronic overbreathing and, 52–53

  Donna’s case, 11–13, 284–85

  Eamon’s case, 174–76

  Tessy’s case, 182–85

  Distracting thoughts, 142, 148, 152, 181

  Divers. See Breath-hold divers; Pearl divers

  Dizziness, 27, 30, 76, 167–68

  Dogs, breathing in, 54

  Donnelly, Peter, 327n

  Doping, 95–99

  Downes, John, 196–97

  Dreyer, Danny, 92

  Dreyer, Katherine, 92

  Drinking water, 116

  Dynamite, 194

  E

  Effortless breathing, 67–68

  Eightlane.org, 123

  Einstein, Albert, 194

  Elder persons, Oxygen Advantage program for, 268–70

  Electrocardiogram (ECG), 200–202

  Endorphins, 90

  Epstein, Catherine, 186–87

  Epstein, Richard, 186–87

  Erectile dysfunction, and nitric oxide, 60

  Erythropoietin (EPO), 96–98, 99, 109

  Evolution, 52–55, 178

  Exercise. See also Physical exercise

  aerobic, 103–4, 180. See also High-intensity training

  anaerobic, 103–4, 114, 180

  breath-holding. See Breath-holding exercises

  breathing. See Breathing exercises

  Exercise-induced asthma (EIA), 209–20

  BOLT score and, 88, 217–18

  breathing volume and, 211–14, 213

  causes of, 211–14

  exercise for stopping symptoms, 218, 219, 220

  guidelines to avoid, 88

  Julian’s case, 209–10

  nasal breathing for, 88, 215–16

  rate of, 210–11

  swimming for, 216–17

  Exercise Physiology (McArdle), 40

  Exhalation, 69, 70, 70, 72, 74, 75, 77, 108

  F

  Facial structure, 83–84, 221–27, 225, 226, 229–30

  Facing Up (Grylls), 117

  Farm animals, breathing in, 55

  Fatigue, 111–12

  Federer, Roger, 221

  Fenton, John, 61

  Fight-or-flight response, 72–73, 178

  Finding the zone. See Zone, the

  Flow, 140–43

  Focus, 142, 148–49. See also Concentration

  Following the breath meditation, 156–58, 181

  Food and diet. See also Weight loss

  alkaline- vs. acid-forming foods, 52–53, 177–79

  appetite suppression and, 173–74, 175, 177

  chronic overbreathing and, 52–53

  Donna’s case, 11–13, 284–85

  Eamon’s case, 174–76

  Tessy’s case, 182–85

  Foreman, George, 140–41

  Free radicals, xiii, 34, 187–88, 318n

  Furchgott, Robert F., 58, 194

  G

  Galen, 211

  Genetics (genes), 10, 25, 31, 221–22, 229–30

  Gibbs, Daniel M., 27

  Giggs, Ryan, 145

  “Going with the flow,” 140–43

  Gordon, Don, 17–18, 137

  Greene, Barbara, 224

  Grylls, Bear, 117

  H

  Hamilton, Tyler, 97, 98

  Hang, Bill, 83–84

  Harvard University, 147

  Harvold, Egil Peter, 226–27

  Hatha yoga, 302n

  Headaches

  air shortages and, 110, 113

  negative thinking and, 151

  Head circumference, 229–30

  Heart attacks, 193, 204–5, 232–33

  Heart disease, 59, 200–208, 232–33

  hyperventilation and, 202–4, 205–6

  Heart health, 193–200

  Heart rate and breathing, 197–200

  Hematocrit, 100–101

  Hemoglobin, 26–27, 100–101, 106

  normal results, 100

  oxygen saturation percentage of, 101

  Henderson, Yandell, 197–98, 200

  High altitude, breath holding to prepare for ascent, 117–19

  High-altitude training, xiii–xiv, 6–7

  breath holds and, 105–7

  “live high and train low” model, 101–3

  merits of, 101–3, 105

  preventing dehydration with nasal breathing, 119–20

  science of simulating, 104–7

  simulating. See Simulated high-altitude training

  High blood pressure (hypertension), 58, 174–75, 194, 195

  High-intensity training

  bicarbonate of soda therapy, 114, 308–9n

  breath holds and, 105–7

  breathing and, 85–86

  merits of, 103–4

  science of simulating, 104–7

  VO2 max and, 35, 103–4

  Hiroshima University Graduate School, 196

  Homeostasis, 59, 177

  Hooker, Steve, 221

  Horses, breathing in, 55

  Human growth hormone, 96, 98

  Humming, 60–61

  Hydration, 116

  preventing dehydration with nasal breathing, 119–20

  Hyperactivity, 226

  Hypercapnia, 34, 125, 296–97n, 307n, 330n

  Hypertension (high blood pressure), 58, 174–75, 194, 195

  Hyperventilation. See Chronic overbreathing

  Hypocapnia, 26, 200, 296n, 307n

  Hyponatremia, 116

  Hypoxemia, 189

  Hypoxia, 34, 296–97n, 330n

  I

  Ignarro, Louis J., 58, 194, 195

  Immune defense, and nitric oxide, 59

  Increasing BOLT scores, 40, 41, 45–49, 85, 244

  bicarbonate of soda for, 113

  diet for, 178

  improving tolerance of carbon dioxide, 46, 139

  nasal breathing for, 51, 56, 82, 83, 85, 87

  simulated high-altitude training, 46–49


  stop losses of carbon dioxide, 45–46

  Inhalation, 70, 70, 71, 74, 77

  Injuries

  maintaining fitness during, 191–92

  warm-up to prevent, 86–88

  Inner body, 89, 155, 161

  connecting with, to enter the zone, 158–60

  Internet and attention spans, 143–44

  Intuitive intelligence, 145–46

  Iron supplements, 125

  Isaacson, Walter, 146

  J

  Jaws, 227–28

  breathing and, 83, 221–24, 226–27, 229

  Jefferson, Yosh, 226

  Jobs, Steve, 144, 146

  Jogging

  nasal breathing during, 89–90, 247

  simulated high-altitude training while, 129, 129–30, 251–52

  K

  Karolinska Institute, 59, 195

  Keane, Robbie, 224–25

  Kelly, Kevin, 143–44

  Kimmage, Paul, 99

  King, Don, 140

  Kinghorn Cancer Center, 186–87

  “Know thyself,” 147

  Kundalini yoga, 224

  L

  Lactic acid, 6, 82, 84

  breath holding to reduce, 111–12

  Landis, Floyd, 98

  Lao Tzu, 89

  L-arginine, 197

  Lee, Jennifer, 67

  Legend of Bagger Vance, The (movie), 145

  “Less is more” theory of breathing, 68, 191

  Levine, B. D., 101–2

  Light breathing, 67–69. See also Breathe Light to Breathe Right

  Light-headedness, 27, 118, 167–68

  “Live high and train low” model, 101–3

  Living in the now to enter the zone, 160–61

  Living standards, and asthma rates, 211–12

  Longevity and career success, 186–87

  Long track speed skating, 102–3

  Los Angeles Olympics (1984), 122

  Lucero, Cynthia, 116

  Lum, Claude, 31, 198, 204

  Lundberg, Jon, 59, 60, 195–96

  Lungs, 5, 19–23, 20. See also Respiratory system

  Lymphatic system, 73

  M

  Machefer, Guillaume, 188

  Manchester United, 145

  Marathon running (runners), 81, 84, 116, 122–23, 186–88, 210, 223

  Marshall, Nick, 135–36

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 144, 147

  Mater Hospital, 213–14

  Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), 34–35, 99–100

  high-intensity training and, 35, 103–4

  McAleese, Mary, 200

  McAnallen, Cormac, 200

  McArdle, William, 40

  McLean Hospital, 116

  Medications, 232

  Meditation, 145–47, 152–55, 181–82

  Brahmari, 60–61

  following the breath, 156–58, 181

  living in the now, 160–61

  mindfulness, 146–47

  observing your thoughts, 149–52

  Mercola, Joseph, xiii–xiv, 114

  Mew, John, 228

  Mexico City Olympics (1968), 6

  Mindfulness meditation, 146–47

  Miyamura, Miharu, 296n, 302n

  Moeller, Joy, 224

  Monaco Grand Prix, 143

  Morris, Jeremy, 232–33, 329–30n

  Mountain sickness, 118

  Mount Everest, 117

  Mouth breathing, 27, 30, 51–53, 80–82

  asthma and, 215–16

  causes of, 60

  in children, 57, 222–24, 227, 229

  dehydration from, 119–20

  facial structure and, 222–27

  functions of, 57

  negative impact of, 52–53, 54

  sleep and, 168–69

  Mouth taping, 64–66, 80

  Mucus, 50, 52, 61

  Murad, Ferid, 58, 194

  Muscle memory, 142–43, 165

  Muscles, delivery of oxygen from blood to, 19–20, 24, 26–27, 108, 109

  Myocardial infarctions. See Heart attacks

  Myofunctional therapists, 83, 224

  N

  Naked mole rat, 191

  Nasal breathing, 51, 53–57

  in animals, 53–55

  asthma and, 215–16

  functions of, 56–57

  for improved sports performance, 82

  at night, 64–66, 169

  nitric oxide and, 58–61, 195–96

  during physical exercise, 80–86, 92

  jogging or running, 89–90, 247

  preventing dehydration with, 119–20

  Nasal cavity, 55–56

  Nasal congestion, 3, 8, 61, 63, 222

  Nasal obstruction, 61, 227

  Nasal polyps, 60

  National Institutes of Health, 196

  Native Americans, 53, 80–81

  Neurotransmission, and nitric oxide, 59

  New York Times, 122, 144, 187

  Night, nasal breathing at, 64–66, 169

  Nishino, T., 298n

  Nitric oxide (NO), 58–61, 193–97, 300n

  Nitroglycerine, 194

  Nobel, Alfred, 194

  Noble silence, 158

  Nose, 55–61. See also Nasal breathing

  nitric oxide and, 58–61

  Nose Unblocking Exercise, 61–63, 62, 244–45, 245

  O

  Oatmeal, 197

  Obesity, 174, 178, 180–81

  Oxygen Advantage program for, 282–85

  Observing the breath, 156–58

  Observing your thoughts, 149–52

  O’Gara, Ronan, 162

  Older persons, Oxygen Advantage program for, 268–70

  Olympic athletes, 6, 13–14, 95, 102–3, 121–22, 123, 131, 146, 221

  Olympic Training Center, U.S., 95

  O’Riordan, Don, 112–13

  Orthodontics, 52, 83, 227–29

  Overbreathing. See Chronic overbreathing

  Oxidative stress, 34, 187, 189–91, 319n

  Oxygen Advantage program, 7, 234–35. See also specific topics

  Alison’s case, 29–31

  Anna’s case, 198–99

  benefits of, 36, 136–39, 241

  BOLT scores and, 36, 40, 41, 138, 233–34

  programs based on, 268–81

  for children and teenagers, 286–89

  David’s case, 8–9

  Don Gordon’s case, 17–18, 137

  Donna’s case, 11–13, 284–85

  Doug’s case, 10–11

  exercise summary, 242–65

  guidelines before beginning, x

  Nick Marshall’s case, 135–36

  Penny’s case, 203–4

  quick reference summary, 240, 266

  for unhealthy or older persons, 268–70

  for weight loss and obesity, 282–85

  Oxygenation

  of the brain, 165–68

  of heart, 193–208

  of tissues and organs, 5, 19–20, 24, 26–27, 49, 108, 109, 285

  Oxygen paradox, 17–31

  delivery of oxygen from blood to muscles and organs, 26–27

  dilation and constriction of airways and blood vessels, 27–28

  regulation of blood pH, 28–31

  regulation of breathing, 21–25

  respiratory system, 19–21

  Oxygen saturation (SpO2), 20–21, 23–24, 126, 136–37

  advanced simulation of high-altitude training, 132–33, 253

  Oxygen uptake. See Maximal oxygen uptake

  Oz, Mehmet, 59

  P

  Pagel, Mark, 114

  Pali Canon, 224

  Panic attacks, 23

  Pantani, Marco, 98

  Papworth method, 204

  Paracelsus, 211

  Patton, George, 111

  Pearl divers, 105–6

  Pei, Chris, 67–68

  Phelps, Michael, 222

  pH scale, 177–78

  Physical exercise, 231–35

  a
erobic, 103–4, 180. See also High-intensity training

  anaerobic, 103–4, 114, 180

  cooldown, 91

  determining whether you have exercised correctly, 91–92

  high-altitude training. See High-altitude training

  nasal breathing during, 80–86, 92, 189–90

  jogging or running, 89–90, 247

  reducing air intake during, 84–86

  warm-up, 86–88

  Physical injuries

  maintaining fitness during, 191–92

  warm-up to prevent, 86–88

  Piszkin, Tom, 79–80

  Pomegranate juice, 197

  Pool player, 161–62

  Practical thoughts, 147–48

  Prematch thinking, 162–65

  Present moment, 160–61

  Price, Weston, 52–53

  Processed foods, 52–53, 173, 178, 197

  Protein, 53

  Pulse, 199

  Pulse oximeters, 125–26

  Q

  Qigong, 67–68

  Quantity of air, 1, 4

  Quiet mind, 142, 144–46, 148–49, 152–55, 161, 164–65

  R

  Red blood cell count, 99–100

  Red blood cells, 5, 6, 100–101, 106–7

  oxygen saturation and, 20–21, 23–24, 35, 101, 136–37

  Red wine, 197

  Respiratory muscle strength, 36, 110–11

  Respiratory Physiology (West), 26

  Respiratory system, 19–21, 20

  delivery of oxygen from blood to muscles and organs, 26–27

  the diaphragm and, 71–74

  nitric oxide and, 58–61, 195–96

  the nose and, 55–61

  regulation of breathing, 21–25

  Rest, maintaining fitness during, 191–92

  Rhinitis, 61

  Richards-Ross, Sanya, 221

  Riis, Bjarne, 98

  Running. See also Marathon running

  simulated high-altitude training while, 129, 129–30, 251–52

  Running economy, 35–36, 297–98n

  Rupp, Galen, 123

  S

  Salt Lake City Olympics (2002), 102

  Samuel, Karen, 224

  Schagatay, Erika, 305–6n

  Science of Breath, The (Rama), 56

  Screen time and attention spans, 143–44

  Secret Race, The (Hamilton), 97

  Sedentary lifestyle, 231, 232–33

  Self-awareness, 14, 145

  observing your thoughts, 149–52

  Self-consciousness, 141–42

  Self-doubt, 147, 150

  Selker, Ted, 144

  Senna, Ayrton, 143

  Seoul Olympics (1988), 122

  Sex life, and nitric oxide, 60

  Shut Your Mouth and Save Your Life (Catlin), 53

  Siegel, Arthur, 116

  Sighs (sighing), 3, 45, 72, 199, 244, 271

  Simpson, Tom, 97

  Simulated high-altitude training, 35, 46–49, 104–7, 249–54, 266

  advanced. See Advanced simulation of high-altitude training

  benefits of, 105, 137

  breath holding and, 105–7. See also Breath-holding exercises

  while cycling, 130, 252

  diet and, 179–80

  importance of movement for, 110

  increasing BOLT scores, 46–49

 

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