Having breathing difficulties? Try Singing

Singing can help provide relief for people with respiratory problems including asthma, emphysema, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD). Doctors at a hospital in London realized that the breathing techniques used by singers might also help lung patients, leading them to start a singing therapy program. “Since many people enjoy singing, we thought it would help them associate controlling their breathing with something pleasant and positive rather than a standard physiotherapy technique,” says Dr. Nicholas Hopkinson, the hospital’s top chest physician. The therapy doesn’t impact breathing tests because the underlying disease hasn’t changed, but it does help patients to feel physically better afterwards. 

Houston Chronicle, 7/4/13