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, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves nearly 5.7 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).