breathing

This Weird ‘Breathing’ Cushion May Have a Surprisingly Useful Purpose

by

After throwing 129 volunteers into the stressful situation of a sudden group math test, researchers found that people using a huggable ‘breathing’ cushion were more relaxed in the lead up to the questions than those without one.   “We were excited to find that holding the breathing cushion, without any guidance, produced a similar effect … Read more

Anxiety could be eased by hugging a pillow that mimics breathing

by

Prototype pillow contains an inflatable chamber that connects to an external pump and motor, enabling it to expand and deflate like human lungs Health 9 March 2022 By Carissa Wong A huggable pillow that mimics breathing has reduced anxiety as effectively as guided meditation for people who were about to take a mathematics test. Interactive … Read more

Yoga: At least one session a week may help to lower blood pressure

by

A large real-world study adds to clinical trial evidence that people who do yoga tend to have lower blood pressure, which may prevent heart attacks and strokes Health 9 February 2022 By Alice Klein Regular yoga may lead to health benefits Boston Globe Copyright: Aram Boghosian/Boston Globe/Getty Images Practising yoga one or more times per … Read more

We May Finally Know Why Whales Don’t Drown When They Gulp Down Krill

by

Baleen whales are heavy drinkers. In just ten seconds, these giant mammals can down over five hundred bathtubs of ocean water, filtering out roughly 10 kilograms of krill in a single swig.   All they have to do is open their mouths and lunge forward at roughly 10 kilometers an hour (6 miles per hour). The … Read more

Rectal breathing: Ventilation alternative increases blood oxygen levels in pigs

by

Flushing trillions of tiny oxygen bubbles through the rectum increases blood oxygen in pigs and could be an alternative to ventilation for people with damaged lungs Health 15 December 2021 By Michael Le Page Pigs recover from low blood oxygen levels after bubbles are injected into their rectum Tyler Stableford Photography/Getty Images The injection of … Read more