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Comment by Someone1234 | Hacker News Reader

They needed an electrical one because studies like data to analyze. You can easily buy a non-electrical one like the Power Breathe, The Breather, PowerLung, etc. Just look up "Breathing Trainers" at Amazon or similar.

As to using "a narrow straw," no, because these resist both your inhale AND exhale, and while it is easy to exhale through a narrow straw trying to inhale just causes the straw to collapse (or you won't get enough air and will have to stop/pass out). They're designed to resist but not limit.

After having tried a breathing trainer, it definitely feels like real exercise even just at your desk, and I cannot imagine doing it for 15-minute sessions via a narrow straw.

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> trying to inhale just causes the straw to collapse

What about just using a metal straw?

With a metal straw, you solve collapse, but you don't solve restrictive airflow.

I'd just buy a breathing trainer with adjustable resistance (start low, set a time goal (e.g. 15 minutes once a day), and increase it one level every session until you fail, then move back one, do a few sessions, then try to move up, repeat).

In the video associated with the original study they say (and demonstrate) that the resistive training is just for inhaling. Exhaling is normal.

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Actually my father just has one half lung left and regularly sees a physio for lung training. One of the excercises they do is breathing through a straw so yes it does work and is being used.

I'd suggest reading the study.

What your father is doing is known as Straw Breathing, you inhale normally, then exhale via a drinking straw. Repeat for five minutes.

We're discussing bi-direction breathing training, wherein resistive inhaling is a significant part of the exercise regimen and one not offered in [easier] Straw Breathing.

If you have a study that compares Straw Breathing to using a Breathing Trainer it would be a welcome addition to the discussion. But currently straw breathing is primarily aimed at bringing people from below back to normal lung function, whereas breathing training is meant to improve lung function above normal.

I use a 10' piece of garden hose shoved into a 5 gallon bucket of water. Or a barrel of water, if you have one. Good for exhale practice.

Can you recommend one of those breathing trainers? It sounds interesting.

I have only experience with one but the Ultrabreath works nicely.

Is there a workout routine that you follow? I got a similar trainer a few years ago, but couldn't find a program that wouldn't be too hard for me to follow.

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