VOA慢速：深呼吸有益于肺部健康
燕山大学 刘立军 供稿
【TRANSCRIPT】
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
When was the last time you thought about breathing? Most people usually do not.
When we are healthy, breathing happens naturally and easily. Without much effort on our part, the human respiratory system works hard. Experts say we take about 20,000 breaths every day.
One such expert is James Hoyt, a doctor at the University of Colorado's Health Pulmonology Clinic, also called UCHealth. Hoyt is a pulmonologist - a specialist on respiratory disorders. On the UCHealth website, he notes that our "respiratory muscles are working every minute of the day, every day of our lives."
A muscle called the diaphragm separates the chest and abdominal cavities. As we breathe in, the diaphragm tightens. The chest cavity opens, and the lungs expand. When we breathe out, the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, pushing air out.
Deep Breathing
When you breathe deeply, the air coming in through your nose fully fills your lungs, and the lower belly rises. On its website, Harvard Medical School notes that deep breathing may slow the heartbeat, lower blood pressure and lower stress. Deep breaths help your body fully exchange incoming oxygen with outgoing carbon dioxide.
However, many people do the opposite of deep breathing. They take short breaths and have shallow breathing. Experts call this "chest breathing."
Shallow breathing limits the expansion of the diaphragm and its movement. The lower part of the lungs does not get a full share of oxygenated air. This can make you feel short of breath and worried, or anxious.
The American Lung Association notes that shallow breathing, over time, leaves old, stale air in the lungs. This leaves less room for the diaphragm to bring in fresh oxygen. And that means lower oxygen levels and less oxygen for exercise and activity.
Easy Deep Breathing Exercise
Several health websites explain an easy deep breathing exercise.
Find a place to sit or lie down. Place one hand just below your ribs. Take a slow, deep breath - or inhale - through your nose. Feel your hand go up. Your stomach should rise and expand. Now breathe out slowly through your mouth. Make sure to breathe out - or exhale - all the way. Feel your hand and stomach go down.
The American Lung Association website states that if done repeatedly, breathing exercises can help remove stale air from the lungs. This will increase oxygen levels and get the diaphragm to return to its job of helping you breathe.
Pulmonologist James Hoyt adds that "deep breathing is a good way to reduce stress and relax."
Hoyt tells patients to avoid smoking, to eat a good diet and to get a good night's rest. He also urges them to seek help for respiratory conditions as soon as they are observed.
Shortness of breath happens when you are worried, frightened, or in poor physical shape. But it can also be a sign of health problems.
And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.
【VOCABULARY】
1. respiratory adj.connected with breathing 呼吸的。例如：
the respiratory system 呼吸系统
2. pulmonologist n. 胸腔科医师
3. diaphragm n. 横膈膜
4. abdominal cavity 腹腔
5. oxygenated air 氧气化的空气
6. stale air 污浊空气
7. exhale v. to breathe out the air or smoke, etc. in your lungs 呼出，吐出（肺中的空气、烟等）；呼气
【QUESTIONS】
Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).
1. Experts say we take about 25,000 breaths every day.
2. As we breathe out, the diaphragm tightens. The chest cavity opens, and the lungs expand. When we breathe in, the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, pushing air out.
3. Shallow breaths help your body fully exchange incoming oxygen with outgoing carbon dioxide.
4. The American Lung Association notes that deep breathing, over time, leaves old, stale air in the lungs.
5. The American Lung Association website states that if done quickly, breathing exercises can help remove stale air from the lungs.
6. Shortness of breath can also be a sign of health problems.
【KEY】
Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).
(F) 1. Experts say we take about 25,000 breaths every day.
（正确表达）Experts say we take about 20,000 breaths every day.
(F) 2. As we breathe out, the diaphragm tightens. The chest cavity opens, and the lungs expand. When we breathe in, the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, pushing air out.
（正确表达）As we breathe in, the diaphragm tightens. The chest cavity opens, and the lungs expand. When we breathe out, the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, pushing air out.
(F) 3. Shallow breaths help your body fully exchange incoming oxygen with outgoing carbon dioxide.
（正确表达）Deep breaths help your body fully exchange incoming oxygen with outgoing carbon dioxide.
(F) 4. The American Lung Association notes that deep breathing, over time, leaves old, stale air in the lungs.
（正确表达）The American Lung Association notes that shallow breathing, over time, leaves old, stale air in the lungs.
(F) 5. The American Lung Association website states that if done quickly, breathing exercises can help remove stale air from the lungs.
（正确表达）The American Lung Association website states that if done repeatedly, breathing exercises can help remove stale air from the lungs.
(T) 6. Shortness of breath can also be a sign of health problems.