4 Breathing Mistakes You’re Probably Making

2. You’re hunched over your computer, your desk or your phone.

Most of us spend hours at a desk at work, pouring over our smartphones, laptops or just staring at a computer screen. While necessary evils for most corporate jobs, the effect this has on our bodies is massive. This working position adds 30 pounds of pressure to the cervical spine, driving the ribs into the diaphragm, adding pressure to the shoulders, and encouraging shallow breathing. To fight the negative effects of this common working position, set a reminder to go off every 15 or 30 minutes that prompts you to straighten your back, stretch out your shoulders and take a few long, deep breaths.

RELATED: The Aerobika device significantly reduced flare-ups of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the 30 days after patients had emergency room visits or were re-hospitalized after a previous flare-up, a study shows.

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