How you breathe during a workout matters
UCI Health sports medicine expert says the body naturally adjusts to one’s need
IN THE NEWS: Breathing comes naturally, even during exercise. Many experts agree that it’s best not to overthink it during a workout.
Dr. Brian Y. Kim, a family and sports medicine physician with UCI Health, spoke with the The New York Times about the simple relationship between breath and effort during exercise.
“Your body should more or less increase or decrease your breathing in relation to your effort and need.”
Wellness influencers have promoted the use of “nasal breathing,” which Kim says some may find helpful.
“Breathing through your nose can have some benefits for people with asthma because the air gets warmer and more humid as it goes through the nose and into the lungs.”
He suggests using this type of breathing sparingly during more intense workouts.
“If you breathe through your nose during a HIIT workout or sprints, you can experience air hunger, where your chest gets tight and you’re gasping for air.”
Kim is also an associate clinical professor of family medicine at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. A specialist in sports medicine, he is the program director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship and the team doctor for the UC Irvine athletic program.
Kim’s clinical interests include metabolic bone health, overuse injuries, sports health and nutrition. He has been repeatedly recognized as a Physician of Excellence by the Orange County Medical Association, including in 2024.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.