Pursed lips breathing: The breathing technique briefly explained

Pursed lips breathing is an exhalation technique for people with breathing problems. It involves loosely closing your mouth and allowing the air to flow out quietly. Breath out with pursed lips in your own personal rhythm. The pursed lips technique is one of the breathing techniques known as endogenous stenosis respiration.

To breathe out, close your mouth in a relaxed position, leaving a small gap between your lips.

Breathe out through this gap. The air escapes slowly and for longer through the lips.

Remember not to press your lips together. There should ideally be no tension between your lips and cheeks. Remember to relax as you breathe out.

• … When breathing out, the bronchial tubes stay open for longer and the pressure in the bronchial tubes therefore falls more slowly because you are breathing out against a resistance. This prevents collapsed lungs and helps counteract hyperventilation.
• … You can breathe out longer and more easily, without the risk of hyperventilation.
• … You calm down your breathing (e.g. if you are having a panic attack) and have the urge to cough better under control.

Pursed lips breathing is a tried and trusted breathing technique that people with chronic respiratory disease (including asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD, cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia) and acute infections use, although it is also used by healthy people after physical exertion. It helps to:

• relieve shortness of breath
• manage panic attacks
• control the urge to cough and coughing fits
• calm breathing faster after exercise
• calm, slowdown and resolve shallow breathing, which can, for instance, be caused by stress

About Rita Kieselmann

This article was written in cooperation with the experienced physiotherapist and respiratory therapist Rita Kieselmann, who has been working in this field since 1974. Her focus is on the treatment of children and adults with chronic respiratory diseases.

Rita Kieselmann is the founder of the Physiotherapy working group in the Mukoviszidose e. V. (Cystic Fibrosis Association in Germany). She has also developed self-help techniques for clearing mucus such as modified autogenic drainage and others.

More tips and breathing techniques:

• PEP therapy and PEP systems: What is it and what are the benefits?
• Clearing mucus: 7 tips on how to gently clear mucus from your lungs
• Shortness of breath: How can I deal with respiratory distress

Note: The information in this blog post is not a treatment recommendation. The needs of patients vary greatly from person to person. The treatment approaches presented should be viewed only as examples. PARI recommends that patients always consult with their physician or physiotherapist first.