A growing trend on social media promoting breathing exercises and handheld resistance devices, known as "lungsmaxxing," aims to boost lung strength, stamina, and workout endurance. However, medical professionals in the United Arab Emirates caution that this practice is often misunderstood, particularly regarding its effects on lung size and oxygen capacity.

According to Dr. Muhammed Aslam, a pulmonology specialist at International Modern Hospital in Dubai, while structured breathing exercises can strengthen respiratory muscles such as the diaphragm and improve breathing rhythm, they do not actually enlarge healthy lungs or significantly increase oxygen levels. “They do not suddenly enlarge the lungs or dramatically increase oxygen levels in a healthy person,” he explained. Instead, such exercises may help reduce rapid, shallow breathing and assist individuals, including athletes, in managing the normal sensation of breathlessness during physical activity.

Online references to “lung capacity” frequently describe improved stamina, better breath control, or stronger respiratory muscles rather than a true increase in lung volume. Lung capacity refers to the measurable volume of air the lungs can hold, which in healthy adults is mainly determined by factors such as age, body size, genetics, and lung and chest structure. Exercise is understood to enhance the efficiency of the cardiovascular, muscular, and respiratory systems working together, allowing for better performance without necessarily altering lung volume.

Dr. Jomar Souza, a sports medicine specialist at NMC Royal Hospital DIP in Dubai, acknowledged that breathing exercises can contribute positively to athletic performance by strengthening respiratory muscles and reducing fatigue. They may also assist athletes in regulating the timing and frequency of breaths during activities that require precise coordination, such as short-distance swimming. However, he emphasized that less breathlessness does not equate to increased lung capacity. “Two athletes can have different lung capacities but the same breathing rate, as well as the same capacity to extract oxygen from the inspired air,” Dr. Souza noted.

Medical experts advise that while breathing drills may enhance respiratory muscle function and comfort during exertion, they should not be viewed as methods for expanding lung size or dramatically raising oxygen intake in individuals with healthy lungs.