Normal breathing at rest

• 8 – 10 breaths per minute
• 4 – 5 litres of air per breath
• Mouth closed
• In and out through the nose
• No movement of the chest or shoulders
• Driven by the diaphragm
• Silent

If you can hear someone breathe the chances are that their breathing is dysfunctional.

The primary purpose of breathing is to supply the body’s cells with oxygen from the atmosphere and to vent off the EXCESS carbon dioxide over and above the 6.5% required to keep the body chemistry in balance.

At around 25,000 to 30,000 breaths per day it is important that each breath is functional and efficient.

There is a simple but reliable questionnaire called the Epworth Sleepiness Scale designed by Dr Murray Johns in Melbourne in 1991. It is purely an indication and is not an absolute diagnosis.

If you suspect that you have a breathing disorder it is wise to visit your doctor and ask for a full investigation.