Safety & Contraindications

Dysfunctional breathing

Also known as: Breathing pattern disorder

German: Dysfunktionale Atmung, Atemmusterstörung

An umbrella term for breathing patterns that are inefficient or out of proportion to what the body needs, such as habitual chest-dominant breathing, frequent sighing, or over-breathing at rest, and that cause symptoms like breathlessness, dizziness or tingling. It can occur with or without a lung condition, so assessment belongs with a doctor or a specialised physiotherapist. Functional breathing approaches are often discussed in this context, but breathwork is not a treatment for it.

The science of breathwork →