Breath Control
Breath control is a form of deep-breathing exercise commonly used to relieve vomiting. It’s most effective when it is done with the help of a partner (someone who can instruct and help you breathe).
Deep breathing exercises are often used in conjunction with other forms of vomiting treatment, such as antiemetics and medications. They’re particularly useful in situations where your stomach has been emptied, but you still feel nauseous and want to avoid vomiting again.
The first step to breath control is to close your mouth and exhale all the air in your lungs. Then, you take a deep breath directly from your diaphragm, meaning that you breathe from the bottom of your lungs rather than from the top. The goal here is to fill your lungs with as much oxygen as possible, making it easier to keep breathing deeply throughout the exercise. As you breathe out after filling your lungs, an audible sound called a “whoosh” occurs—this means you’re doing it correctly. Your partner should also be able to hear this sound.
After you’ve filled yourself with oxygen, hold your breath for 10 seconds or longer, then slowly exhale until you’re empty. If you’re having trouble holding your breath, try taking a few deep breaths between each to fill up with more oxygen.
