Asthma has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by excessive mucus production, inflammation and constriction of the airways. The term, asthma comes from the Greek word for ‘panting’ and means attacks of difficult breathing

Most recent Asthma facts and figures from the CDC National Center for Health Statistics In 2007:

·        Number of non-institutionalized adults who currently have asthma: 15.7 million

·        Number of children who currently have asthma: 6.5 million

·        Number of hospital emergency department visits: 1.8 million

·        Number of deaths: 3,780

Asthmatics endure repeated respiratory infections, physical inactivity, fatigue, fear, missed work or school, a limited quality of life, ongoing financial expense and continued quest for a solution to deteriorating condition.

Up to now, most asthma patients have had to rely on drugs to control this often incapacitating, sometimes life-threatening disease - drugs which can produce a list of serious side effects. An article in Britain's New Scientist (April 6, 1991) was headlined ARE ASTHMA DRUGS THE CURE THAT KILLS?

The conventional medical model is sometimes successful in suppressing (masking) the asthma symptoms but does not address the root cause for asthma, therefore, does not improve the asthma condition.

Professor Buteyko was able to prove that the root cause of asthma is chronic overbreathing (hyperventilation). The Buteyko breathing method corrects the breathing pattern and therefore dramatically improves / eliminates asthma symptoms

Click on the link below to see the asthma cycle flow and the difference between the Buteyko treatment (that targets the root cause and eliminates the entire asthma cycle), and the conventional medications (that treat the symptoms but have side effects that increase asthma)

Asthma cycle

Hyperventilation the cause of asthma

Asthmatics overbreathe. That means breathing heavily, rapidly or through the mouth when there is no need for it. Often hyperventilation occurs unconsciously, resulting in irritation, inflammation and constriction of the airways.

Multiple studies have shown that on average, asthmatics breathe two to three times more air than people without asthma (Bowler et al, MJA Dec 98). Asthmatics tend to breathe through their mouths instead of their noses, and also at a higher than normal breathing rate. On average, asthmatics are breathing 12 to 14 liters of air per minute instead of the typical 4 to 6 liters of air per minute.

Over time, this excessive breathing pattern results in an abnormal loss of carbon dioxide (C02). This precious gas is critical for regulation of many bodily functions such as the acid/alkaline balance of blood. To have optimum oxygenation of tissues and organs the body requires 5.5-6.5% C02 in the lungs. The body creates most of this amount as the atmosphere contains only 0.035%.

For asthmatics, the CO2 level is always low, due to chronic overbreathing. When a "trigger" is encountered, it stresses the body and breathing increases even more. In an effort to prevent further C02 loss, extra mucus is secreted to clog airways which narrow and constrict – a defense mechanism called asthma. Airways are supposed to be reactive to protect us in situations such as toxic fumes or very hot/cold air.

When an asthmatic uses a bronchodilator to override this, the airways open artificially and they experience temporary relief. Opening the airways continues the over breathing and loss of carbon dioxide. If the breathing rhythm is not reduced by the time the medication wears off, the person is susceptible to another asthma attack.

The solution

The Buteyko exercises are designed to raise your carbon dioxide to healthy levels and stop attacks. With a rise in your C02, breathing will be normal and undesirable symptoms -along with the need for medication will greatly diminish or disappear altogether. Imagine no expensive drugs, no side effects, no fear, no special considerations, no asthma symptoms- freedom. These exercises were developed by the Russian physician Dr. Konstantin Buteyko, and in medical trials have shown a 90% reduction in reliever medication (bronchodilators) after only three weeks on the program.

Summary

Despite the amazing advances in modern medicine, the Western medical community has not found a cause for asthma. Instead they treat its symptoms with trigger removal and a variety of asthma medications designed to suppress symptoms instead of address the root cause of asthma. These were the only options for treatment available until now. The problem may seem complex, but the solution is simple; correct your breathing, stop your carbon dioxide loss, and your body's defense mechanism becomes unnecessary and asthma is avoided.