Why, When and How Can Breathing Become the Most Important Factor of Preserving Life and Increasing Life Span
According to one of the numerous hypotheses, the initial cause of human aging is changes in the collagen structure. They begin in early childhood, continue during the whole life and their result is evident. It manifests itself in gradual reduction of the utmost range of movements in knee and hip joints, as well as in lumbar and cervical spine. Reduced mobility of these articulations is connected with increased “rigidity” of connective tissue collagenic fibers. Aggravation of collagen “rigidity” is caused by its ability for “self-mounting”, i.e. gradual fusion of separate collagenic fibers into thicker and thicker bundles. Besides, formation of “transverse seams” between three polypeptide chains within each collagen molecule leads to further increase of its “rigidity”.
An analogous process takes place in several dozens of thoracic joints, connecting ribs and vertebrae and ribs and sternum. As a result, difference between a thorax diameter in maximum inhalation and expiration reduces from 8 cm up to 1 cm by 70 years.
Collagenic fibers are a framework of almost all organs and tissues, as well as their vessels and nerves. A morphological structure of collagenic fibers of various organs can differ to a great extent. This difference is explained by peculiar functions of these organs. However, basic properties of collagen, its ability for “self-mounting” and formation of “transverse seams” is stable in all cases. Thus, one can state, that increase of collagen “rigidity”, i.e. its “aging”, is a continuous lifelong process, which takes place not only in joints, but also in organs and tissues.
All types of collagen are derived from one and the same predecessor, known as procollagen and synthesized by connective tissue fibroblasts. A genetic apparatus of cells is likely to have no power over processes, which happen to collagen after its releasing into intercellular space. Training joint flexibility is known to reduce a number of “transverse seams” in collagen molecules. Thus, a genetic apparatus of other cells can have no effect on velocity of collagen “aging” either and absence or presence of this phenomenon is conditioned by a load character. A growing number of “transverse seams” in collagen molecules results in impaired permeability of nutritional and regulatory substances through a collagen network, decrease of a portion of elastic fibers and atrophy of parenchyma cells. So, basic qualities of collagen suggest, that its changes with a passage of time are to be the most important cause of tissue and organ aging in particular and a man in general. It is impossible to stop augmentation of collagen “rigidity” by effecting a cell’s genetic apparatus, just as it is impossible to expect, that these effects will help an old man to restore joint mobility, watched in a child, and changes in a thorax diameter, seen in a youth. At the same time, growing “rigidity” of articular collagen, connected with aging, is not an inevitable process. It is known, that reduction of maximum flexibility of joints can be opposed by regular exercises, aimed at achieving better mobility of knee and hip joints and spine. Ballet-dancers, acrobats and yogis with their regular and intensive training have a range of joint movements, which is quite comparable with that of children and can be preserved up to a great age. Thus, a main factor, preventing collagen “aging”, is a repeated effect of stretching with almost maximum intensity.
It is clear, that aging of a man is first of all conditioned by aging of his internal organs. Functioning of hollow organs is accompanied by periodic changes of a length of their walls due to necessity of providing certain functions. Functioning of non-hollow organs is too accompanied by changes of a length of their tissue due to pulse fluctuations of pressure in their feeders.
A degree of these tissue changes in internal organs, as well as in joints, should be dependent on a speed of collagen “aging”. A process of collagen “aging” should result in smaller flexibility of tissues of internal organs. Thus, a speed of collagen “aging” both in internal organs and joints should be characterized by inverse dependence on intensity and regularity of changes of their tissue length. Decreasing the utmost range of movements causes reducing the utmost range of feeders flexibility. It leads to collagen “aging” within vascular walls, lesser elasticity of vessels and reduction of blood flow. Blood flow deficit promotes “self-mounting” and overgrowth of collagen fibers in organs and tissues, which is accompanied by simultaneous decrease of a portion of elastic fibers and atrophy of parenchyma cells. At the same time, a regular and intensive change of a tissue length can prevent not only “aging” of collagen in internal organs and their feeders, but also aging of organs as such.
Breathing causes changes of pressure within thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities. It provides rhythmic compression and distention of all internal organs, vessels and nerves, including structures, forming walls of these cavities, as well as of articulations between vertebrae and junctions of skull bones, spinal cord and brain.
Thus, breathing opposes “aging” of collagen, being a part of all the above-mentioned structures, and aging of these structures proper. Besides, changes of pressure, watched in cavities during breathing, provide outflow of lymph from internal organs and CSF from the spinal cord and brain. Adequate lymph outflow is an important condition for creating optimum pericellular environment, necessary for counteracting cell “aging”.
Distention and compression of internal organs during breathing promotes their functioning by mixing content of hollow organs, participating in food motion along the gastrointestinal tract, improving venous blood flow and lymph flow in lymphatic vessels, etc. Respiratory movements effect arterial pressure and prevent collagen “aging” in aorta and arteries.
Thus, breathing opposes aging of the aforesaid structures in many ways and a force of this counteraction is directly dependent on intensity of pressure differential within thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities during breathing, i.e. on its depth. Periodic intensification of breathing due to physical loads, accompanying life of primitive people during millions of years, may have been the most important element of evolution, which ensured successful realization of all respiratory functions, described above. Civilization development has led to a predominant position of inactive life style. Minimum depth of respiration causes loss of functions under discussion. At the same time, atrophy of pulmonary tissue results in gradual weakening of its main function, aimed at adequate oxygen supply of the body. There is every reason to state, that the majority of diseases of the aged are “civilization diseases”, connected with loss of numerous respiratory functions.
Increase of respiration depth by regular physical loads or conscious transition to deep “comfortable” diaphragmatic-costal breathing can help to restore its most important role in opposing “aging” of collagen in all internal organs, to provide optimum pericellular environment and to promote the most effective functioning of these organs. These multiple effects of deep breathing will weaken an impact of many factors, promoting development of “civilization diseases”, ensure their effective treatment and oppose aging. Information, presented in this article, allows to put an end to debate of many years, started by scientists and representatives of alternative medicine and concerning “correct” breathing of a man. According to notions of modern physiology, a man should breathe as he breathes. Nevertheless, in order to do it “correctly”, he must practice deep breathing irrespective of his age. It should be done regularly especially under conditions of inactive life style.
Detailed description of the author’s views, their substantiation and information on respiratory exercises, developed by him and aimed at opposing a process of aging of internal organs are presented in the book Longevity Algorithm (Peculiarities of Breathing, Ensuring Health and Longevity) by Doctor of Medical Science Eremeev V.S., Saint Petersburg, 2009. ISBN 978-5-85503-017-4.
Eremeev Valery - the doctor of medical science, the professional physiologist, many years taught physiology of Medical Ynstitute of Leningrad, managed blood circulation laboratory at Ynstitute of cardiology of St-petersburg.
