Why sighing is important to your health
About twelve times an hour, we supposedly sigh unconsciously? and breathe much deeper than normal. In fact, we pump twice as much air into the lungs than a normal breath. For years researchers have been investigating this phenomenon, now US scientists have deciphered the mechanism behind it. Jack Feldman, neurobiologist at the University of California (UCLA), examined the process and published the study's findings in the journal Nature.
What is behind the phenomenon?
The sigh center of the human being is located in the brain stem, where the respiratory center is located. The breathing itself is automated. However, two tiny neuron arrangements provide for occasional deviations from normal breathing? and these sighs are needed to provide oxygen to even remote areas of the lungs. The purpose of the sigh, then, is to maintain the exchange of air and to inflate collapsed alveoli. "When they collapse, they disrupt the ability of the lungs to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide," explains Feldman. Sighing is thus vital.
What do biologists say about this topic?
Sighing also plays a vital role in infants, as scientists from the University of Bern found in a study. They found that babies make a particularly deep breath every 50 to 100 breaths, which is controlled by the respiratory center in the brain. The sigh helps infants to develop a regular and stable breathing rhythm. As soon as the breathing gets too slow, does the brain adjust to it? and interrupts the rhythm with a sigh.
When and why are we sighing?
Generally, we sigh with grief, stress or just relief. But why in these situations? There is no clear explanation for it, Ulfried Geuter, psychotherapist from Berlin, sees the sigh as a kind Reset button for the psyche, Emotions and tensions can discharge, we can breathe deeply and take a deep breath to get back down.
