Fitness Tip: How to tackle breathing difficulties

Although the lungs have the capacity to use up to 2.5 litres of oxygen per minute during exercise, respiratory conditions such as asthma and those new to physical activity can often experience breathing difficulties during periods of exertion.

A great tip (and one that I regularly use as an asthmatic) to help the body increase its maximum capacity and the amount of oxygen it can take in during physical exercise, is to breath out deeply via the ribs and abdominal muscles.

You may struggle at the beginning of a new exercise programme, but the lungs - particularly the intercostal muscles between the ribs - will grow increasingly stronger with consistent training and exercise, allowing you to exert yourself harder or for longer, without the difficulties you once experienced.