We all know the sighs of relief and disappointment, but most sighs are actually neutral.
According to researcher and physician Sigrid Anna Aalberg Vikjord from NTNU, adults sigh roughly every five to thirty minutes, and even more often as infants.
A sigh is not just another breath. It is a deep, spontaneous inhalation that draws in about twice as much air as a normal breath.
This process, which happens naturally at intervals, helps the lungs stay flexible and maintain proper function.
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What does the sigh do to your lungs?
In a new international study published in Science Advances, researchers explored the physical effects of sighing.
Instead of studying real lungs, they used a lab model with a liquid that mimicked the fluid found inside the lungs.
By blowing air in and out of a small chamber, scientists measured how the liquid changed.
They found that sighing helped restore the optimal balance of this liquid, which coats the tiny air sacs in the lungs.
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When this balance is maintained, the lungs become more resilient and less likely to collapse.
Sigrid Anna Aalberg Vikjord explains that sighing helps reset the structure of this delicate fluid layer.
The study offers an elegant explanation for why sighing feels both necessary and soothing, though more research is needed before applying the findings directly to human lungs.
Physically and mentally
Sighing is driven by emotion, yet it also influences how we feel. Anxiety, pain, joy, and desire can all alter breathing patterns, Sigrid Anna Aalberg Vikjord notes.
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In turn, our breathing can amplify or calm emotional reactions. Rapid breathing may lead to dizziness or fainting, a state known as hyperventilation.
Because of this close link, breathing techniques are widely used in both medical and alternative treatments to relieve stress and improve wellbeing.
Studies even show that such exercises can make students less stressed, especially those who experience high levels of anxiety.
When we sigh, our bodies shift between physical and emotional states, such as from stress to relaxation.
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Losing the ability to sigh can be dangerous. Experiments on mice show that it may lead to partial lung collapse or pneumonia.
So the next time you let out a deep sigh, remember that it is more than a response to emotion. It is your body’s way of keeping you balanced, both physically and mentally.
Source: Forskning.no.
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