Short Stuff: Getting Winded

Podcast Summary

• Exploring the Impact of Frenospasms on Breathing and Mental Health: Understanding the physical and emotional effects of frenospasms can help us navigate challenging situations and prioritize self-care

  The Therapy For Black Girls podcast provides a space for exploring mental health and personal development, with hosts Joy Harden Bradford and Josh sharing relatable experiences like getting the wind knocked out of them. This experience, also known as Frenospasm, involves the phrenic nerve and diaphragm, which control breathing. When the diaphragm contracts, it allows us to inhale, and when it expands, we exhale. When the diaphragm is injured, it can cause difficulty breathing, leading to a panicky and scary situation. This conversation coincided with a listener's question about the topic, highlighting the relevance and importance of discussing these experiences and understanding our bodies.

• Experience of having the wind knocked out: Getting the wind knocked out is a temporary condition caused by trauma to the solar plexus area, which affects the diaphragm's ability to breathe. It's not life-threatening and the diaphragm will resume functioning on its own.

  Getting the wind knocked out of you occurs when the diaphragm, the muscle responsible for breathing, is either paralyzed or spasming due to trauma, such as a punch to the solar plexus area. The solar plexus is a bundle of nerves near the diaphragm that controls the guts and slows down digestion during fight or flight mode. Contrary to popular belief, the solar plexus itself does not disable the diaphragm. Instead, the diaphragm stops working temporarily due to the trauma. The experience can be frightening as you're left without any air in your lungs and unable to breathe, but it is generally not life-threatening. The diaphragm will resume functioning on its own in a few seconds, although it may take some time for the panic to subside.

• Misunderstanding of Solar Plexus Attack: The term 'solar plexus attack' is commonly used incorrectly to describe getting the wind knocked out. It's a misnomer as the solar plexus doesn't play a significant role in this phenomenon. Instead, it's more accurate to refer to it as a punch to the diaphragm or stomach.

  The term "solar plexus attack" is often used incorrectly as shorthand for getting the wind knocked out of you, but it doesn't actually have anything to do with the solar plexus. This misinformation spreads easily due to laziness and lack of proper explanation. The solar plexus is a term for an area between the navel and the bottom of the pecs, but it doesn't play a significant role in getting the wind knocked out of you. A doctor might use the term "solar plexus attack," but it's essentially a misnomer. This misconception is not a major issue on its own, but collectively, it contributes to the spread of misinformation. A more accurate term would be to refer to getting the wind knocked out of you as a punch to the diaphragm or stomach. For those interested in a more detailed explanation, I recommend checking out a video by Kevin Tokopf at Catalyst University, who explains this concept in a clear and visual way. Overall, it's important to strive for accuracy and clarity in our communication to avoid perpetuating misconceptions.

• Breathing techniques for recovery from being winded or falling: Staying calm and focused on intentional breathing can help recover from being winded or falling. Take a knee, raise hands above head, arch back, stick chest out, and mimic actions if alone. Trust in the process of restoring normal breathing.

  No matter the situation, staying calm and focused on your breathing can help you recover from being winded or even in a more serious fall. Joe Piazza, the host of the "Sicilian Inheritance" podcast, shares this valuable tip after experiencing it himself. He emphasizes taking a knee, raising hands above the head, arching the back, and sticking the chest out to help restore normal breathing. If alone, try to mimic these actions and focus on intentional breathing. In more extreme cases, having a pillow nearby can provide additional support. The key is to remain calm and trust that you will start breathing normally again soon. This tip, according to Joe, is a valuable lesson that can apply to various aspects of life.

• Signs of serious injuries after an accident: If breathing doesn't return to normal after an injury, seek medical attention as it could be a sign of something more serious than a fracture or collapsed lung.

  If you experience difficulty breathing after an injury and it doesn't return to normal within several minutes or up to 15 minutes, it's important to seek medical attention as it could be a sign of something more serious than a fractured rib or collapsed lung. The speaker shared his personal experience of a persistent tailbone bruise from a golf cart injury, which served as an example of how some injuries can take a long time to heal. The speaker also suggested using an inflatable donut to help alleviate the pain from such injuries. The discussion ended with a light-hearted note as the speakers bid farewell to their audience. This podcast episode, titled "Stuff You Should Know," is a production of iHeartRadio, and listeners can access more podcasts on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever they listen to their favorite shows.