Buteyko breathing is a technique that has been shown to improve asthma symptoms in a study performed by Division of Respiratory Medicine, City Hospital, Nottingham, United Kingdom and published in "Thorax," a leading respiratory medicine journal. Developed by Konstantin Buteyko, this breathing technique helps asthma sufferers gain control over their symptoms by breathing in and out through the nose in quick, successive patterns. You can try Buteyko breathing for yourself to see if it helps your asthma.
Step 1
Find a quiet place to sit or lie down, suggests Pegasus NLP. Get rid of things that could distract you like the television, noises, or a computer. Take a moment to assess your current breathing pattern. Breath in and out as you normally would. Focus on how many counts it takes you to breathe in and out. As you breathe, reduce the amount so that your breaths become more shallow and closer together. Breath quickly for one minute.
Step 2
Inhale through your nose only, keeping your mouth closed. According to the teachings of Buteyko, breathing through your nose helps to regulate the nitric oxide and carbon dioxide levels in your body. Buteyko also believed that breathing through your mouth causes a drying of your air passages, notes the Buteyko Center. It should always be avoided for the Buteyko technique.
Step 3
Exhale to remove the air from your lungs completely. Imagine your lungs as bags full of air, that you are squeezing in order to deflate. Hold your breath until you feel the urge to inhale, and then breathe in, holding the breath until you feel the need to exhale. This acts as a workout for your lungs, conditioning them for better breathing. Do this five times in succession.
Step 4
Practice Buteyko breathing at least twice a day, or as director by a respiratory therapist, says AsthmaCare.com. Set aside time each day to do it, or set an alarm so you remember to do it. Each session should only take about five minutes and, according to "Thorax," can reduce your need to use an asthma inhaler.
Step 5
Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and your interest in Buteyko breathing. You will still be urged to keep your inhaler, and shouldn't stop using your inhaler unless as directed by your doctor, says "Consumer Reports."
