The Best Breathing Exercises For Asthmatics

The Buteyko breathing technique was created by the Russian respiratory physiologist Professor Konstantin Buteyko to treat those suffering from asthma and other respiratory disease's. The principle behind this breathing methodology is that most people suffering from respiratory illness over-breath and inhale to much air this will lower the amount of carbon dioxide inside of the human body.

Why is carbon dioxide important?

If your Co2 level is not at the required level then oxygen is just going to be carried around the bloodstream and is not made available to tissues and organs in the human body. These minimal quantities induce an increase in breathing and an even further decrease of Co2, a classic vicious circle.

Secondly carbon dioxide dilates the smooth muscle around the airways, arteries and capillaries, decreased amounts of Co2 induce these muscles to tighten. If these arterial blood vessels narrow this has the potential to trigger greater heart rate, higher blood pressure and a increased breathing level.

It in addition helps to sustain the body's PH balance which is very important in retaining a healthy immune system.

Carbon dioxide aids in the body's production of cortisol, the body's natural steroid which is needed to control inflammation.

Co2 is used in the body to reduce the production of mucus resulting in less restricted airways.

The Buteyko methodology is an exercise regime for a person's breathing, it is designed to lessen the quantity of air inhaled to assist you to retrain your own body in order to receive an increased level of carbon dioxide. The sequence is composed of a check of your pulse ahead of and following the actual exercise process, a check of what is known as the control pause and the actual breathing exercises

The control pause is actually a measurement of carbon dioxide in the alveoli dependent on a comfortable breath hold, but its not recorded right after taking a large breath of air, its taken when the air is expelled via the lungs during an ordinary breath. The lower the time you can wait after breathing out the lower the level of Co2 in the body. The desired percentage of co2 is 5.5 which in turn represents a control pause of approximately 40 seconds, a control pause of 10 seconds shows a co2 level of 4.0 percent. According to Buteyko teachers, with regular Buteyko reduced-breathing exercises, asthmatics are predicted to find that their CP over time will increase and in parallel suffer lessened asthma symptoms.

The intention of the Buteyko breathing method is to increase the levels of carbon dioxide to at least five-and-a-half per cent giving a control pause of forty seconds.

With the continuous practice of the Buteyko breathing exercises the respiratory centre should end up being able to accept a larger concentration of carbon dioxide. Remember, it is the level of carbon dioxide that decides the need to inhale.

My name is Trevor Chapman and i have been an asthma sufferer all my life. As i get older and more sedentary my asthma symptoms have worsened and my use of preventor and reliever drugs have increased.

I have been looking for a natural cure or treatment which will help me control these symptoms and have started to practice the Buteyko Breathing method. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.