Question
Disclaimer: I am not a physician. Ask your doctor before treating any illness.
There has been a great deal of controversy surrounding the Russian approach to asthma treatment, epitomized by "The Buteyko Method". This was developed by Dr. Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko in the 1950's. It has worked for me.
THEORY BEHIND THE BUTEYKO METHOD
The Buteyko theory is that although an asthmatic attack is caused by a reaction to an antigen, the threshold of sensitivity of the lungs to an antigen is significantly influenced by hidden overbreathing. The treatment is based on bringing the breathing to what Buteyko determined to be "normal limits". By use of the Buteyko exercises the use for drugs can be minimized or eliminated.
IMPORTANCE OF CARBON DIOXIDE
The Buteyko theory argues that the carbon dioxide level in the blood affects the PH of the blood. Overbreathing, or hyperventiliation causes us to blow off C02 more rapidly than is desireable. Oxygen is carried and transported by red blood cells, but if the carbon dioxide level is not within a prescribed range the oxygen molecule "sticks" to the hemoglobin molecule. The result is oxygen starvation of tissues and an impoper feedback signal sent to the muscles which control the alveoli. This is called the Verigo-Bohr effect. The stated purpose of the Buteyko method is to reverse the Verigo-Bohr effect.
TRIGGERS THAT CAUSE OVERBREATHING
1. The belief that deep breathing is healthful and improves health.
2. Stress from emotions.
3. Over-eating and big meals.
4. Lack of regular exercise.
5. Prolonged excessive sleep.
6. Hot and stuffy environments. (Keep that truck well ventilated)
7. Bronchodilators. These are standard medications that give quick relief at first, but Buteyko argues they cause overbreating because they are designed to open the air passageways and keep them open for 4-12 hours and this allows the sufferer to continue what he thinks is "normal breathing". After 2-12 hours the low carbon dioxide level means the airways will go into spasm again and the bronchodilator will be needed once more.
8. Excessive sexual activity. (Not in my case anyway)
9. Smoking and pollution (antigens in the air). The reaction of the asthmatic to such situations is to gulp more air, altering C02 levels.
10. Alcohol and recreational drugs, which must be eliminated.
THE BUTEYKO EXERCISES
1. Breath in and out, both through the nose only, to reduce overbreathing. Do not breathe through the mouth.
2. Sleep on the left side and do not sleep on your back.
4. Increase the control pause and the maximum pause in your breathing cycle.
The control pause is described as the time it takes someone to breathe out normally, then hold his or her breath in the out position until the first signs of discomfort occur. This measurment is recorded and then the person continues to breathe through the nose in a shallow pattern. Most people can achieve 10 to 20 seconds at rest. Some cannot even one second while others can do 40 seconds naturally. The goal is to work up to succeed in holding the breath in the out position for up to 50 or 60 seconds until first difficulty is reached. According to Buteyko if a person has a control pause of 15 seconds he is breathing enough for four people. A pause of 30 seconds is enough for two people. A pause of 60 seconds means you are breathing for one person.
The maximum pause is the time it takes to breath out normally, hold his or her breath in the out position, through specially taught exercises and distractions, prolong this pause to the maximum time. With exercise, perseverance and repetition some people can bring themselves to times of two minutes or longer. The idea is to develop your breathing into a more shallow pattern.
To prolong the maximum pause the patient breathes out to the maximum, holds the nose and firmly closes the mouth while seated upright. Then he/she holds the breath in expiration (that is with empty lungs) until he/she feel uncomfortable.
(a) body gyrations - These involve moving the torse about while holding the nose - flinging the body from side to side, bringing the head towards the knees, rocking from side to side and rocking forwards and backwards.
(b) Mobile exercises. Finally the sitting gyrations don't distract the patient enough and he/she stands up and walks around the room in circles, keeping the move until he/she can no longer hold their breath.
(c) Nose breathing. The person tries to prevent overbreathing by breathing strictly through the nose. You sit down and try to deliberately establish a shallow breathing patern. After a rest of two or three minutes a control pause is carried out.
(d) Fun and games. Make a game of this with children pacing out steps around the room while they count. Do squats. Have them jump up and down on the spot.
Adult asthma sufferers are acustomed to using a peak-flow meter but Buteyko practicioners use a stopwatch. Success is measures in each persons increase in control pause as determined by stopwatch. Maximum pause can be stretched to surprising lengths but the control pause is the final measure of success. If the feeling of first difficuly does not arise until 40 to 60 seconds have passed the patient can feel confident his breathing patterns are improving and that the oxygen/carbon dioxide ratio is in normal limits. If a person feels an attack coming on the drill is to do one maximum pause, then three minutes shallow breathing, then one more maximum pause. If no relief is felt the patient can take one puff of the bronchodilator, and if necessary one puff five minutes later.
TYPICAL BUTEYKO BREATHING EXERCISE SCHEDULE
1. Take the pulse.
2. Control Pause.
3. Three minutes shallow breathing.
4. Maximum pause.
5. three minutes shallow breathing.
6. Control pause.
7. Three minutes shallow breathing.
8. Control pause.
9. Three minutes shallow breathing.
10. Maximum pause.
11. Three minutes shallow breathing.
12. Control pause.
13. Three minutes shallow breathing.
14. Take the pulse again.
Buteyko divided his asthma patients into three categories.
MILD CASES - These cases are episodic and triggered by viral infections or sometimes exercise. Ocasional use of bronchodilator.
MODERATE CASES - Those who are on steroids and make regular use of a bronchodilator. The exercise drill for these patients is two to four practice sessions a day of twenty minutes each.
SEVERE CASES - Classes as those with two different types of bronchodilator inhalents plus steroid inhaler with or without other agents such as methotrexate. They tend to frequent hospital visits. Practice sessions of 3 to 5 times per day for twenty to thirty minutes initially, later easing to two sessions. To achieve best results these sufferers may need three to twelve months of practice.
The right way to learn the exercises is through a doctor who knows the method.
Answer
NY2,
One of my staff is an asthmatic who relies on her inhalers during attacks. Her attacks are usually controlled without any other intervention and are usually on the heels of another upper respiratory problem. She is using if more frequently over the past couple of weeks as she is reacting to all of the pollen in the air right now.
I am going to show her this information as well as showing it to Dr. Briggs. I am going to ask her to give this a try during her next asthma attack (under the watchful eye of Dr. Briggs) and see what happens.
Thanks, as always, for your input.
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Keeping you safe, healthy, and on the road.
Nurse Red
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