ABSTRACT
This chapter tests out a practical strategy to help with chest pain. The breathing technique is paced, mindful abdominal breathing. Abdominal breathing can have broad physiological and emotional effects: it reduces chest strain, anxiety and stress, and it helps divert attention away from worry. Most of the non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) patients have a tendency to use chest breathing, regardless of other factors in their chest pain cycle. A more helpful way of breathing will reduce tension around the chest wall by using the diaphragm instead. Remember that in order to breathe, all people need to do is expand the cavity around the lungs. Research has found that mindfulness practice can lead to significant improvements in the management of pain and other difficult physical symptoms and to significant benefits in well-being. Central to mindfulness is the idea that is possible to pay attention to experiences in a way that is purposeful and nonjudge-mental.
