Hi everyone. Do you every think that breathing is a gift? It is so easy to take it for granted when all is going well. Here is a real-life story to provide more insight into why you need to treasure it.

As many of you already know, I fractured my C-1 (first cervical vertebrae) in 1975. One of the after effects is Breathing difficulties. Shortness of breath is a daily occurrence for me ever since. There are many trigger points that enhance its impact.

Improper pillow. You probably see commercials about the importance of having a comfortable pillow. Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to buy a good-fitting, comfortable pillow? I have. The process is termed..PITA. If you don’t know what that stands for, just …as the saying goes…GOOGLE it.

Pillows can seem so worthwhile in the market, while feeling them up. It’s only when getting home and actually using them that the truth comes out. Either too full, too flat, too fluffy, or too cumbersome.

The wrong pillow affects my breathing. It may affect yours, as well. This occurs when the vertebrae are misaligned. Pain shoots everywhere from my head to my toes. (Especially my neck.) A misaligned neck makes breathing very difficult. It hinders sleeping, also. Not good….

There are many nights when sleeping on folded towels is the solution. Or, simply laying flat. Flatness provides instantaneous relief. Nice…

Mattress. A good Mattress makes all the difference, also. Pillow-top versions do not feign well with spinal alignment. Some consider these versions “romantic”, not me. Give me a firm mattress any day and twice on Sunday.

Regularly rotating and turning the mattress will help even out mattress wear-and-tear. A mattress that needs rotating will cause spinal misalignment – hence, shortness of breath.

Poor posture. This is common sense, but must be mentioned. The older I have gotten, the more I realize not everyone has common sense. Shortness of breath occurs more often when my neck is misaligned.

Poor diet. After 40+ years of living with daily shortness of breath, I know for a fact that processed foods, in particular, hinder my breathing. It may be the preservatives, excess sugar/fat/additives, or handling. Whatever it is, I minimize my usage of these “foods”.

Stress. Isn’t stress the cause of many health problems? You bet it is. Whatever shape or form it takes, excess stress hinders breathing. I would think we all share that dilemma. It’s only when realizing it that we can change it. Sometimes it is much easier said than done.

OK…I think that’s enough for now. You may be wondering why I choose to write about breathing on a blog that mainly discusses total knee replacement concerns. It is because I have been experiencing increased bouts of shortness of breath lately. I blame it on the pillow. It also happened during my tkr recuperation.

Hope this helps others going through the same thing.

MORAL OF STORY: Never take your breathing for granted. There are those who would give almost anything for the delight of effortless breathing. Breathing is a gift…Treasure it.

Find interesting? Kindly share it….

AUTHOR NOTE: Booktoots’ Healing helps total knee replacement patients find support throughout recuperation and beyond. Its mission is for patients to understand they are not alone in their ordeal with either a tkr or other physicality concerns.

This site is owned and operated by Marie Buckner, a published author and tkr patient who has been living with various physicalities for over 40+ years. She enjoys sharing her experiences to help others going through the same thing.

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