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THERAPIES & TRADITIONS · GUIDE

Claim Check: "Everyone Should Do Breathwork Daily"

Is daily breathwork right for everyone? A plain look at what trials show for gentle slow breathing, the risks of intensive styles, and who should check with a clinician first.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

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The claim

"Everyone should do breathwork every day" is a common slogan online. It bundles three ideas: that breathwork is safe for all, that it helps all, and that it should be daily. We checked each.

The short answer

Not supported as stated. Gentle, slow breathing has promising but limited evidence for stress. We found no good evidence that every person needs it, or that daily practice is required. Some styles carry evidence of harm for some people.

Which "breathwork"?

The word covers very different things. The NHS describes a gentle technique: let the breath flow deep into the belly only as far as is comfortable, without forcing it, and it says you get most benefit if you do it regularly. [2] At the other end are intensive styles built on overbreathing or breath-holding. They are not the same, and the evidence for one does not carry over to the other. See gentle and intensive breathwork compared.

What studies found

4 findings · 2 supported · 2 limited or unclearThe colour follows the evidence label on each card.

  1. Does breathwork lower stress?

    Promising but limited

    A meta-analysis of 12 trials (785 adults) found lower self-reported stress than controls, g = -0.35. Most studies had moderate risk of bias, and the authors urged caution about hype outrunning evidence. [3]

  2. Does slow breathing lower blood pressure?

    Promising but limited

    NCCIH describes a 2019 review of 17 studies (1,165 people) with a modest drop, but short follow-up and high risk of bias. [4]

  3. Does breathwork make yoga work better for stress?

    Insufficient evidence

    In a review of 36 yoga studies, the idea that yoga with breathwork gave larger effects was not supported. [5]

  4. Do all people need it, or daily?

    None

    Proper evidence not found. We searched for trials of daily breathwork in the general public and found none.

People in these trials know they are doing the practice, so expectation may explain part of any change.

Frequently asked questions

Is breathwork safe for everyone?

No. NCCIH reports occasional negative experiences and rare worsening of symptoms in some groups. [4] Intensive styles carry more risk. [8]

Do I need to do breathwork every day?

Proper evidence not found that daily practice is required. The NHS says regular practice gives most benefit for its gentle technique. [2]

Does breathwork help with stress?

Possibly, a little. A meta-analysis found lower self-reported stress, with caveats about bias. [3]

Is it fine to skip it?

Yes. Proper evidence not found that skipping gentle breathing practice harms healthy people. We searched for trials of daily breathwork in the general public and found none.

What if it makes me anxious or dizzy?

Stop and return to normal breathing. NCCIH notes some people feel more anxious or fear losing control. [4] If it keeps happening, see a clinician. [4]

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

Safety first
Some breathwork styles use fast, deep breathing or long holds. We give no instructions for them. Hyperventilation (also called overbreathing) is rapid and deep breathing. [1] Never do forceful or intensive breathing while driving, bathing, swimming, near water or at heights. If you have trouble breathing or chest pain, get urgent care (in the US, call 911). MedlinePlus says rapid breathing for the first time may be a medical emergency. [1] For a mental-health crisis in the US, call or text 988.
Risks and who is affected
NCCIH says relaxation techniques are generally considered safe for healthy people, but some report increased anxiety, intrusive thoughts or fear of losing control. [4] It also notes rare reports of worsened symptoms in people with epilepsy, certain psychiatric conditions, or a history of abuse or trauma. [4] NCCIH advises people new to yoga to avoid forceful breathing. [6]

Intensive styles have more serious reports. Dutch news described about a dozen drownings linked to the breathing exercises of one popular method; a 2024 court case ended in acquittal because proof of the link was not shown. [7] Hyperventilation can cause people to black out underwater. [8] In a news feature, experts warned that prolonged overbreathing can cause seizures and other adverse effects, and that few proper studies exist because of the dangers and ethics involved. [9] In a small Danish study of holotropic breathwork (20 people, no control group), a paranoid-ideation score rose, though to a higher but still normal score. [10] See Wim Hof-style breathing and water.

Harms are rarely measured. A Cochrane asthma review did not include adverse effects as an outcome, [11] and in a cancer pain review only one study addressed adverse events. [12]

Who should check first
People with asthma or COPD, heart conditions, high or low blood pressure, epilepsy, glaucoma, pregnancy, psychosis or bipolar disorder, panic disorder, eating disorders or a trauma history should ask a clinician before intensive breathwork. NCCIH names epilepsy, certain psychiatric conditions and trauma history; the sources we read do not list the others, so ask your clinician. [4] See who should not do intensive breathwork. Breathing practice is at most an extra; never stop medicines or delay care for it. For goal-level guidance see breathing exercises for stress.
References
  1. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Hyperventilation. Read 2026-10-22.
  2. NHS, Breathing exercises for stress. Read 2026-10-22.
  3. Effect of breathwork on stress and mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials. Scientific reports 2023. PubMed abstract. Read 2026-10-22.
  4. NCCIH, Relaxation Techniques: What You Need To Know. U.S. National Institutes of Health (last updated June 2021). Read 2026-10-22.
  5. Yoga as an intervention for stress: a meta-analysis. Health psychology review 2025. PubMed abstract. Read 2026-10-22.
  6. NCCIH, Yoga: Effectiveness and Safety. U.S. National Institutes of Health. Read 2026-10-22.
  7. DutchNews.nl, Iceman Wim Hof cleared of causing death of American teenager (news report, July 2024). Read 2026-10-22.
  8. Live Science, Gambling with your life? Experts weigh in on dangers of the Wim Hof Method (a news feature quoting experts, not a study). Read 2026-10-22.
  9. Discover Magazine, Holotropic Breathing Promises Psychedelic-Like Trips Without the Drugs. Is It Safe? (a news feature with interviews, not a study). Read 2026-10-22.
  10. Measure of Significance of Holotropic Breathwork in the Development of Self-Awareness. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2015. PubMed abstract. Read 2026-10-22.
  11. Breathing exercises for adults with asthma. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2020. PubMed abstract. Read 2026-10-22.
  12. Breathing Exercises for Pain Management in Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review. Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses 2023. PubMed abstract. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.