Chinese woman shouts daily at 6 am to boost lung capacity; does it really help?

Posting a video of the woman from his flat on Chinese video platform Douyin, a resident showed the woman cycling towards his building and then letting out a shout that lasted for almost 10 seconds. “Here’s another one,” he said in the video, as the woman let out another long shout.

With several commentators debating over the woman’s unusual lung exercise, let’s understand from experts if shouting can actually aid lung health. “Shouting does not specifically benefit lung health. However, while prolonged or excessive shouting can put a strain on the vocal cords and cause damage or disorders to them, it may also temporarily increase lung capacity and strengthen some respiratory muscles,” Dr Ambarish Joshi, senior consultant, Pulmonology, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi said, adding that this, however, is a temporary increase.

There are several better ways to improve your lung capacity (Source: Getty Images)

Agreeing, Dr Kamlesh Pandey, Consultant Chest Physician, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road said that according to a study, shouting will allow to improve pulmonary functions and help oxygen travel throughout the body by increasing lung capacity. “However, there is no concrete evidence to prove this fact. It is better to speak to an expert and clear all doubts instead of believing hearsay things. Scream therapy or shouting can help one release stress and tension in the muscles, thereby making one feel happy. But, how it impacts the lungs is not known yet. We will have to wait for more research regarding this,” he said.

Experts further mentioned that the possible temporary benefits of shouting are far outweighed by the negative consequences. “Shouting too loudly or with too much force can strain the vocal cords and cause hoarseness, nodules on the vocal cords, or other vocal disorders. Additionally, it might hurt, irritate, or harm the throat. Shouting can also be aggressive or disruptive in social situations, which could strain or stress out relationships,” Dr Joshi said.

Adding, Dr Hari Kishan G, Consultant Interventional Pulmonologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad said that shouting can also disseminate bacteria or virus-filled droplets, raising the risk of spread of communicable respiratory diseases. “The nose acts as a natural defence mechanism of the respiratory tract through the nasal hair and mucosal layer, by trapping the foreign particles and dust. Shouting bypasses this defence mechanism and exposes the lungs to unfiltered air,” he explained.

So, how can one effectively improve lung health? Experts shared the following tips:

*Regular exercise is essential for enhancing lung health. Exercise aerobically, such as brisk walking, jogging, or cycling, to build lung strength and expand lung capacity.
*Lung function can be improved with deep breathing exercises like diaphragmatic breathing or pursed lip breathing.
*Reduce your exposure to pollution and secondhand smoke by not smoking.
*Maintain healthy indoor air quality and eat a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants to help your lungs.

As for shouting to improve lung health, Dr Pandey warned that those having high blood pressure should not shout too much as their BP can shoot further. “People who already have vocal cord issues like vocal nodules, polyps, or laryngitis should refrain from shouting excessively. Shouting should also be avoided by people who have respiratory conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or bronchitis because it can exacerbate their symptoms,” Dr Joshi added.

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