Answer this question to the best of your ability:
What is the physiological effect of relaxed breathing on the body during stressful situations?
Relaxed breathing, also known as diaphragmatic or deep breathing, has a significant impact on the body's physiology during stressful situations. When you practice relaxed breathing, you inhale deeply through your nose, causing your diaphragm to move upward, thereby expanding your chest cavity. This expansion creates a vacuum that pulls air into your lungs. As you exhale slowly through your mouth, the diaphragm moves downward, which decreases the chest cavity's volume and forces air out of your lungs.

The process of relaxed breathing triggers a series of physiological effects that help to counteract the body's stress response. For instance, deep inhalations increase oxygen intake, which can enhance blood circulation and promote relaxation by reducing feelings of anxiety or tension. Simultaneously, slowed exhalations stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for restoring calm after the body has been under stress. This calming response can help to regulate heart rate, lower blood pressure, and reduce cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress.