Recent research reveals that sighing is not just an emotional reaction but a biological mechanism that helps maintain the body’s balance. It can reduce stress, regulate breathing, and support lung function.
A study published in Science Advances shows that many people feel a sense of relief and lightness in their chest after sighing—this feeling is both psychological and physical. Deep breaths and long exhales significantly reduce lung surface tension compared to shallow breathing, optimizing the fluid that coats the lungs and protecting lung tissues from damage.
Chronic shallow breathing may reduce lung elasticity over time, making breathing harder, especially in older age. Practices like cyclic sighing or long exhales, even for five minutes daily, improve lung function, reduce stress, and boost concentration.
Sighing helps reopen alveoli—the tiny air sacs in the lungs—that can collapse during shallow breathing. While sighing can be linked to negative emotions like anxiety or pain, consciously controlling breath, especially with deep exhales, offers considerable health benefits for lungs and stress management.
