If you are suffering from asthma, you know how hard it can be to breathe. Asthma is a serious condition and at times, scary, but it can be treated and managed. Lung exercises can help you learn how to breathe more effectively, making it easier for you to engage in day to day activities. Knowing how to breathe more consciously can also help during asthma attacks.
Asthma
Asthma is an allergic reaction that causes airways to swell and narrow. It creates extra mucus making it difficult to breathe. Asthma can be mild to severe and symptoms can vary from person to person. While there is no cure for asthma, there are ways to help control the symptoms, which can include coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. A variety of triggers, such as exercise or environmental irritants, can spark asthma symptoms.
Types
The Papworth method is a breathing technique that is based on diaphragmatic breathing. It is designed to stop the rapid, shallow breaths from the chest. Instead, it emphasizes nose breathing. The Buteyko method is also a breathing technique. It focuses on correcting over breathing, which is characterized as breathing too much or too loud, breathing through the mouth, and sighing regularly. Pranayama is a yoga breathing technique that concentrates on filling the lungs with fresh air to help stimulate the respiratory system. Meditation is aimed at controlling breathing and relaxation. The heart of meditation is learning how to breathe.
Effects
The Papworth method works for asthmatics by teaching them how to relax and take deep, gentle breaths. It helps asthma sufferers to recognize stress factors and change and implement a new breathing pattern into daily lives. The Buteyko method combats irregular breathing by centering on the measure of a breath hold. This can help asthmatics to gain the most oxygen out of their breathing. The pranayama breathing found with yoga benefits individuals with asthma by helping to increase the lungs' airflow, air capacity, stamina and efficiency. Likewise, meditation increases blood and oxygen flow, strengthening the lungs and airways.
Expert Insight
A study published in the British medical journal "Thorax," conducted by researchers from the University College London, followed 85 men and women with mild asthma for a period of one year. Half of the participants took traditional medicine and the other half took traditional medicine while also participating in the Papworth method. Results found that breathlessness was cut by one third in the group that practiced the Papworth method. A 2008 study published in "Respiratory Medicine" looked at the effectiveness of the Buteyko method on asthma as compared to inhaled corticosteroids. Results found that individuals using the Buteyko method had their asthma in control with a reduction in the use of inhaled corticosteroids.
Considerations
Asthma is a serious condition that requires treatment. Contact your doctor to find the best course of treatment for your type of asthma.
References
- Physorg.com: Papworth Breathing Technique Cuts Asthma Symptoms by a Third
- Your Asthma Treatment: Breathing Exercises for Asthma Patients
- Project-Meditation.org: Meditation and Asthma
- MayoClinic.com: Asthma
- Mail Online: Take a Deep Breath, It Could Help to Ease Your Asthma
- "Respiratory Medicine": A Randomised Controlled Trial of the Buteyko Technique as an Adjunct to Conventional Management of Asthma; RL Cowie, et al.; May 2008
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