In Brazil, treatments for chronic respiratory diseases are very expensive. Pague Menos, the nation’s second-largest pharmacy chain, found an affordable and accessible way to improve the health of these patients by commissioning a song that acts as physiotherapy for the lungs. This samba therapy could be used anywhere, even at patients’ homes.

The main challenge was setting up two teams: a team of physicians to write therapeutic lyrics, and a team of musicians to compose music with a helpful beat. It was vital to ensure that the song remained catchy, despite the breathing exercises it embodies. Pague Menos managed to turn treatment into a tune and partnered with one of Brazil’s top singers, Alcione, who not only is a samba star but also had childhood asthma.

Treatment for respiratory diseases should be more affordable and easily accessible for everyone. That’s why Brazil’s Pague Menos pharmacy chain developed an innovative therapy that’s chemical-free but packed with rhythm. “Song for the Lungs” is the first-ever song created specifically for chronic respiratory patients. Physicians and musicians collaborated to write a song consisting only of voice exercises that help strengthen lungs and muscles.

The outcome is a toe-tapping samba with extended notes and stretched-out vowels, trills, and tongue-twisting phonetics, as well as mouth exercises through sounds like pah-pah-pah, fffff, and sh-sh-sh-sh. The effectiveness of these techniques has been scientifically proven through medical studies. The song is performed by samba star Alcione, who also suffered from childhood asthma. By releasing this song on all platforms, Pague Menos offers millions of people easy access to this affordable treatment for respiratory diseases.