Using Accessory Muscles Of Ventilation

Cheerleading: LSU holds blood drive for Chico Garcia

In an attempt to help LSU associate cheerleading coach Chico Garcia with the overwhelming costs of his medical treatment, the LSU Athletic Department has teamed up with Our Lady of the Lake Hospital to host a blood drive in Garcia's honor today.

Garcia was involved in a serious boating accident on Aug. 27 that left the former LSU cheerleader in critical condition with a spinal-cord injury. The drive will take place in the Tiger Stadium parking lot today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For every pint of blood donated, Our Lady of the Lake will take off $15 from Garcia's medical expenses.

Due to Garcia's good physical shape prior to his accident, he has been able to use accessory muscles to breath. But as those muscles begin to atrophy, breathing has become more labored. Doctors have now determined that a tracheotomy procedure is necessary for Garcia to continue breathing.

"The team has been affected by this tragedy in a major way," said Pauline Zernott, head spirit coordinator. "But they have taken Chico's spirit and positive attitude and have realized that this is just a temporary situation and that he will be back as soon as possible."

Those who can't attend today's drive but still wish to donate in honor of Garcia can do so at next week's week-long blood drive on Tower Drive behind the Student Union from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

____

Contact Michael Gegenheimer at mgegenheimer@lsureveille.

Don't Be a Shallow Breather! | The Delightful Life

As we age, the muscles we use to breathe age too, and need exercising to stay in good shape. Here’s the hows and whys of breathing!

When you take a deep breath, the accessory muscles of respiration are brought into action. These are the scalenes, sternocleidomastoids and trapezius. The scalenes are the first muscle to start contracting and gradually the other two muscles are brought into action. These muscles should not contract during regular “belly” breathing. The scalenes are the narrow band of contracting muscle on either side of the neck when lifting the chin slightly to the opposite side.

So what causes shallow breathing?

(1) The shortening of any of the accessory muscles of respiration. Sitting in positions where the chin is close to the chest, watching TV with the head propped up and even sleeping on a pillow with too much loft can cause a shortening of these muscles. The shortening of these same muscles can also cause headaches.

(2) Loss of deep breathing skills

(3) Anxiety

(4) Chronic pain

(5) Restrictive clothing, particularly in the abdominal area

Does anxiety cause shallow breathing, or does shallow breathing cause anxiety? The answer may be both. We may have a chicken-or-egg situation here. Not getting enough oxygen, as in a shallow breath, signals a problem to your brain. You go into a fight-or-flight reaction. More shallow breathing. And anxiety, caused by life’s stresses, causes a flight-or-flight reaction, shallow breath. Then shallow breathing can shorten the accessory muscles of respiration, which can then cause more shallow breathing. And so on. See the problem?

How do you breathe? Take one hand and place it on your chest. Place the other hand on your belly. Breathe. Notice which hand is moving as you inhale and exhale. Is it the top hand or the bottom hand? If it’s only the top hand, it’s likely you are a shallow breather who can greatly benefit from a switch to deep breathing.

Of mice and men

Three Cups of Tea

Elements of Style

The Grapes of Wrath

A Confederacy of Dunces