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Breath Restoration Specialty Program

Our Breath Restoration Courses are designed for you who are longing to eliminate pain, restore health, and optimize performance. Within these in-person and online breath restoration courses, we will address breathing exercises geared toward improving chronic health complications ranging from sleep apnea and asthma to hyperventilation and sports performance.

Our 3 Breath Restoration Programs

Package TypeProgram FormatPriceInitial VisitPayment Options

In-person Small Group

~5 sessions, doctor led, over the course of ~1 month

$550

1-on-1 session/exam

Upfront or 4 equal installments

Telehealth: Semi-Private

~5 sessions, doctor led, over the course of ~1 month

$550

1-on-1 session/exam

Upfront or 4 equal installments

Self-led

2 1-on-1 sessions, with a doctor, available within the first 2 months

$550

No need for initial visit

Upfront or 4 equal installments

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Why Are Breathing Exercises Important?

You inhale, you exhale. If this pattern becomes altered, then health complications occur. Your breath is the one thing we can watch at rest and identify if you are unhealthy. It is a window into your health.

The ideal respiration rate, or breaths per minute, has been demonstrated to be roughly 6 breaths per minute.1 Diaphragmatic breathing is vital to obtaining this ideal breath rate and pattern. To improve diaphragmatic breathing, training, or breath, exercise is a must to obtain this target rate.

Dysfunction of this respiratory rate can easily be seen within unhealthy individuals. Unhealthy individuals reliably breathe hard and fast. The questions at hand: is the sickness causing their hard and fast breathing? Or is the hard and fast breathing causing their sickness?

It is estimated 9.5% of the general adult population has dysfunctional breathing (DB) or hyperventilation syndrome (HVS).2 These two terms are relatively one in the same. Additionally, dysfunctional breathing affects roughly 30% of asthmatic individuals and up to 75% of anxiety sufferers.3

What Is Dysfunctional Breathing?

Dysfunctional breathing is a respiratory disorder. This disorder may be psychologically or physiologically based, involving breathing too deeply and/or too quickly (hyperventilation). You may also experience erratic breathing interspersed with bouts of breath-holding or frequent sighing.4 Chronic hyperventilation can be seen during sleep, rest, or physical exercise.5 3

Can I Improve My Breathing?

Yes, you can improve your breathing, depending on the status of your overall health. The goal may be to improve it for longevity and quality of health for your remaining years. By restoring the breath, you can physically take control and improve the chemistry within your body. The ideal respiration rate is ~6 breaths per minute. This is a subconscious 6 breaths per minute. Anyone can stretch and fake this respiration rate consciously. This is about being truly honest with yourself.

How Can I Check My Breathing Rate?

New technologies, such as the Oura Ring and Fitbit, help track sleeping respiration rate. These new technologies give unbiased data of your breath rate. We do advocate for these technologies for many other reasons; however, you can also ask a friend or family member to count your respiration rate when you are unaware.

Symptoms of Dysfunctional Breathing

Respiratory complications can manifest in many ways, including physical problems, such as forward head posture.6 Here is a list of other associated symptoms to which dysfunctional breathing may be the underlying factor7

Cardiovascular

Includes cardiovascular symptoms such as palpitations, missed heartbeats, tachycardia, sharp or dull atypical chest pain, ‘angina,’ cold extremities, Raynaud’s, blotchy flushing of blush area, capillary vasoconstriction

Psychic

Includes psychic symptoms such as tension, anxiety, ‘unreal feelings’, panic, phobias, agoraphobia

Neurological

Includes neurological symptoms such as dizziness, instability, faint feelings (but rarely fainting), headache, paresthesia – (numbness, deadness, uselessness, heaviness, pins and needles)

Allergies

Includes allergy symptoms such as Excessive sneezing, drainage, clogged nose

Respiratory

Includes respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, irritable cough, tightness or oppression of chest, air hunger, inability to take a deep breath, excessive sighing, yawning, sniffing

Gastrointestinal

Includes gastrointestinal symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, globus (lump in throat), dry mouth and throat, acid regurgitation, heart burn, flatulence, belching, air swallowing, abdominal discomfort, bloating

Muscular

Includes muscular symptoms such as cramps, muscle pains especially those of the neck, back and shoulders, stiffness

General

Includes general symptoms such as weakness, exhaustion, impaired concentration, impaired memory and performance, disturbed sleep, including nightmares, emotional sweating

What Does Dysfunctional Breathing Feel or Look Like?

  • Oral breathing

  • Faster breathing

  • Upper chest movement

  • Audible breathing during rest

  • Frequent sighing

  • Frequent yawning

  • Noticeable breaths prior to talking

  • Generally visible movement from breathing

  • Paradoxical breathing

What Causes Dysfunctional Breathing?

  • Hormonal changes

  • Processed foods/overeating

  • Lack of physical exercise

  • Excessive talking

  • Anxiety, stress, trauma

  • Belief that it is beneficial to breathe more air

  • Airtight houses

  • Asthma

  • Genetic predisposition/familial habits

Can I Check If I Need Help from You?

We have compiled a list of questions - feel free to download this PDF and answer the questions. The first questionnaire is the Nijmegen Questionnaire, which identifies if a person is experiencing hyperventilation syndrome. The second questionnaire helps us understand to what extent the severity of the Nijmegen Questionnaire is regarding your symptoms.

If you score 23 points or higher on your Nijmegen Questionnaire, then the questionnaire suggests you have hyperventilation syndrome and breath restoration is more important for you to add longevity and quality of health to your years.

By no means are these questionnaires stand-alone in deciding on if breath retraining is right for you. These quick questionnaires only help paint a rough draft into the spectrum of unhealthy to healthy you present with in regard to breathing dysfunctions.

Additional Equipment

Nasal Dilators

Nasal dilators can drastically help open the nasal airway to facilitate nasal breathing by spreading wide the entry way into the nose. These can be worn while running, working out, or sleeping.

Buy on Amazon

Buteyko Belts

Buteyko Belts are designed to be easily strapped around your waist. Using a belt can drastically help you feel where your belly should be expanding through. Truly becoming aware of your breath can be remarkably difficult for certain individuals and the Buteyko belt helps to do this

Buy from Buteyko

Mouth Tape and MyoTape

Mouth Tape and MyoTape are a specialized cotton, elastic-based mouth tape which can be worn at any time of the day or night. It applies around the mouth. Therefore, it does not cover the mouth while gently pulling the lips together. Myotape helps to improve snoring, sleep apnea, poor sleep quality, sport-training, while reducing exercise-induced asthma. Learning to nasal breathe is a must for overall health. Myotape can be an accessory tool to help get you there faster. If purchasing, make sure you look at the correct size. The sizes: small (children), medium, and large are not always labeled.

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Core 360 Belt

Core 360 Belts are like Buteyko Belts. They are to be easily strapped around your waist. Core 360 Belts have four firm semi-circular balls on the inside of the belt which can be easily moved. The advantage of this is it is easier for you to feel expanding into the back “side-pockets” of the abdominal wall. Again, sensory or awareness is vital for restoration of breath. Some Core360 belts have internal breathing sensors to detect how well you are breathing and creating Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) to help stabilize the low back.

Buy from Core 360

What’s My Next Step?

If you filled out the questionnaires, please send them to our email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We have three different training options. We offer in-person small group training classes, semi-private telehealth classes, self-led video program training classes. Schedule now to improve your health through our breath restoration programs.

Content written by Dr. Keith Sparks, DC | Buteyko Breathing Instructor, DNS – Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Certified
Content reviewed by Dr. Rachel Sparks, DC | DNS – Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Certified

View Citations and References

1 Russo MA, Santarelli DM, O'Rourke D. The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human. Breathe (Sheff). 2017;13(4):298-309. doi:10.1183/20734735.009817

2 Jones M, Harvey A, Marston L, O'Connell NE. Breathing exercises for dysfunctional breathing/hyperventilation syndrome in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(5):CD009041. Published 2013 May 31. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009041.pub2.

3 Courtney R. Multi-Dimensional Model of Dysfunctional Breathing and Integrative Breathing Therapy – Commentary on The functions of Breathing and Its Dysfunctions and Their Relationship to Breathing Therapy. Journal of Yoga & Physical Therapy. 2016. doi:10.4172/2157-7595.1000257.

4 Barker NJ, Jones M, O'Connell NE, Everard ML. Breathing exercises for dysfunctional breathing/hyperventilation syndrome in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(12):CD010376. Published 2013 Dec 18. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010376.pub2.

5 Jack S, Rossiter HB, Pearson MG, Ward SA, Warburton CJ, Whipp BJ. Ventilatory responses to inhaled carbon dioxide, hypoxia, and exercise in idiopathic hyperventilation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004;170(2):118-125. doi:10.1164/rccm.200207-720OC.

6 Okuro RT, Morcillo AM, Ribeiro MÂ, Sakano E, Conti PB, Ribeiro JD. Mouth breathing and forward head posture: effects on respiratory biomechanics and exercise capacity in children. J Bras Pneumol. 2011;37(4):471-479. doi:10.1590/s1806-37132011000400009.

7 Timmons BH, Ley R. Behavioral and Psychological Approaches to Breathing Disorders. New York, NY. Plenum Press; 1994.

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Contact Us with Further Questions

If you are in the Wichita, KS, area and are having frustrations, complications, or stagnant results with care, then contact us for in-person help with our unique healthcare approaches. If you are not within the greater Wichita, KS metro, we have created amazing Telehealth and Video Programs to provide you the same high-quality care. Contact our professional chiropractic staff at our East Wichita clinic or West Wichita clinic about possible treatments for your muscle, joint, nutrition, and health-related concerns today.

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