Italian to English Other History Balkan wars

Context:
Text describing the content of a one-woman theatrical performance retracing the memories of a housewife who lived through Tito's Yugoslavia and then the Balkan wars which would eventually lead to the breakup of the country.

I am struggling to get the meaning of the phrase " azzera i respiri' as it appears in the following text:"Ma Angelka non si prende cura dell’andamento familiare e dei lavori domestici. Angelka recita, balla, canta, azzera i respiri e Angelka ride, si fa beffarda fool dei luoghi comuni del mondo