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What are your thoughts on breathing techniques vs medication?

joshuap001 profile image
12 Replies

Hi Everyone,

I am sufferer of asthma, and it has been brought to my attention as to whether the effectiveness of specific breathing techniques vs medication could assist in increasing lung capacity.

Breathing techniques:

Some sources suggest that breathing exercises can help alleviate asthma symptoms while also improving lung strength, capacity, and overall health. Yet I have found that many articles have varied opinions on whether breathing techniques help individuals with asthma or not. According to the article Breathing Exercises for Asthma it is stated that, many individuals are eager to use non-pharmacological therapy to enhance asthma management, particularly breathing control exercises, but the data base has been insufficient until recently. Other recent research, on the other hand, has led to the inclusion of breathing exercises as an add-on treatment in asthmatic systematic reviews and guidelines. The role of breathing exercises has been debated, in part because some proponents have made excessive, unjustified claims of efficacy (Thomas & Bruton 2014). According to the article Breathing Exercises to Increase Lung Capacity, it has been stated that the diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing techniques are the most effective exercises in increasing lung capacity of any individual. Diaphragmatic breathing involves deep breathing to engage the diaphragm which distinctly improves lung capacity. Also, by reducing the work of breathing by keeping your airways open longer, pursed-lip breathing can slow down the rate of breathing. In doing so, the lungs are more likely to function properly, and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is improved.

To undertake the diaphragmatic breathing exercise, you need to do -

-Relax your shoulders and sit back or lie down.

-Place one hand on your belly and one on your chest.

-Inhale through your nose for two seconds, feeling the air move into your abdomen and feeling your stomach move out. Your stomach should move more than your chest does.

-Breathe out for two seconds through pursed lips while pressing on your abdomen.

-Repeat.

To undertake the pursed-lip breathing exercise, you need to do -

-Inhale slowly through your nostrils.

-Purse your lips, as if pouting or about to blow on something.

-Breathe out as slowly as possible through pursed lips. This should take at least twice as long as it did to breathe in.

-Repeat.

Medication:

Even though most individuals in clinical trials attain high levels of control with targeted pharmacotherapy, poor control is prevalent in "real-world" management, with over-reliance on rescue bronchodilator medication and persistent symptoms and quality of life deterioration. A ventilator assists with the hyperventilation symptoms during an asthma attack to assist in clearing the airways of an individual. Although neither condition has a cure, there are treatments available. Inhaling medication directly into the airways with a handheld inhaler or a nebulizer is the most common treatment option. These drugs work by reducing inflammation, opening up the airways, and clearing any mucus build-up in the lungs. If you are a sufferer from asthma and would like some assistance have a look at the photo attached which is able to display and help with what to use and when to use it.

I would love to hear what you guys think and if anyone has been recommended certain breathing techniques or medication such as preventors by medical professional. Is anyone relying on breathing exercises alone? Love to hear about your experiences with this.

I hope you found this helpful!

Thanks,

Joshua Pellicone

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12 Replies
knitter profile image
knitter

I enrolled on a Buteyko Breathing course many years ago to help with my asthma , my daughters also .

It helped , but the quality of the tutors varied greatly , very expensive too .

We used both medication and breathing techniques .

Never just stop using medication if it has been prescribed. I use preventer always and reliever if needed.

Regular check ups

My daughters are allergic to quite a few things …..pets , nuts , pollen etc . So they learnt to avoid and use antihistamines . That’s helped . My hay fever bad at the moment .

I use gentle , gentle low and slow diaphragm breathing as relaxed as I can . Always through nose to warm and filter. But it’s easy to forget , especially when stressed …..so stop and check from time to time .

Meditation has helped me relax and gentle breathe too .

Plenty on you tube ….Jon Kabat Zin is good .

You mention DEEP breathing , Buteyko recommends GENTLE breathing , not BIG breaths which can lead to hyperventilation . Low into the tummy area , but not big breaths . Relaxed shoulders, relaxed belly …low and slow breaths . Patrick McKeown has you tube videos .

Gentle gentle pursed lip breathing helps me with breathlessness , but I always have my reliever Ventolin to hand .

Your health professional should advise you to recognise when asthma symptoms are worsening , what to do , who to contact …. what to do in an emergency . Puffs of reliever , when emergency help is needed …who to phone . …carry a card perhaps.

So in answer to your query , Buteyko has helped me greatly , so has meditation , relaxation to relieve panic .

All help to prevent hyperventilation or disordered breathing pattern .

But I rely on my preventer and always carry my reliever.

Sorry for the long reply !

By the way , your picture showed Seretide ….that’s a reliever/ preventer in one I think . I can’t use that at all ….tried a couple of times . I use single steroid preventer,

Patk1 profile image
Patk1

I used 2 steroid inhalers + salbutamol whn required.also use a nebuliser.Also have niv for type 2 ventilatory failure but take it off if having acute asthma attacks.i also require another bronchodilator.meds,puffers+ nebulisers are very necessary for my severe asthma.i do use controlled breathing technique too,which I can't do on Niv.i find controlled breathing v beneficial to remain calm and focused during severe asthma,also for breathlessness and for walking,going upstairs etcHope ths is useful2u

SORRELHIPPO profile image
SORRELHIPPO

I have done breathing exercises on and off over many years, was also given a clarinet as a child (mother advised by a doctor), both these appeared to help with strength of breathing. Sorry, read this medication as meditation!! As to meditation have done this for various reasons, seems to reduce the tension in my body and mind, which does make breathing easier, until I do something too stressful again. As to the topic that I went off!! Medication does have an instantaneous impression, whereas the others take a little more time.

Karenanne61 profile image
Karenanne61

I have been given breathing excercise by a speech therapist and respiratory physios. I find them very useful but alongside the usual meds and inhalers. Belly breathing does calm the nervous system and yoga has been shown to increase fev, only a tiny bit but when yours is very low even a teeny bit helps! When having a spinal block recently prior to surgery the anesthetist said he'd never had anyone who remained so still whilst they were finding the appropriate spot in the spine, that did take some concentration to breathe slowly though!

Gillian_ALUK profile image
Gillian_ALUKPartner

Hi! You might find our information about managing breathlessness and breathing techniques interesting : blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

on-my-trike profile image
on-my-trike

I agree that exercises can help & strongly believe this! BUT a word of WARNING I was doing this exact exercise unknowingly having a heart condition, this exercise brought on massive chest pains & made me feel terrible!! SO PLEASE BE AWARE OF OTHER HEALTH ISSUES!!! Take care all of you out there, I’ve just had 2 stents fitted 😜

YummyBear profile image
YummyBear

Try looking on this site, it is helpful.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

Close your eyes to help you relax and focus on your breathing. Slowly breathe in through your nose, with your mouth closed. If you’re relaxed, the air will reach low in your lungs. Your stomach will move out against your hand. If your breathing is controlled, the hand on your chest will hardly move. Breathe out through your nose.

Hope this helps.

Ergendl profile image
Ergendl

Singing for lung health groups are very useful places for improving your breathing. I run one in south Cheshire which though small has brought significant improvements in breathing and posture for the people who attend.

Just really disappointed that the singing group I run was dropped from the list when migrating the information from the British Lung Foundation website to the Asthma and Lung UK website. My group is still well supported by our local Breathe Easy group, and the physios running the PR group I attended supported me in starting it.

Bingo88 profile image
Bingo88 in reply to Ergendl

I have been looking for singing groups in my Area but they don't seem to have started up again since the covid virus. I live in Staffordshire so not that far from South Cheshire I wouldn't think. But I know its supposed to be very useful for copd Brian

Ergendl profile image
Ergendl in reply to Bingo88

My group is based in Crewe: Breathe Better Sing Together. Do come along if it's not too far.

Bingo88 profile image
Bingo88 in reply to Ergendl

I will keep it in mind thanks for when I finish my Pulmonary rehab course. Brian

Walkwalkwalk profile image
Walkwalkwalk

What a wonderful post. I don’t have asthma but developing various breathing techniques has been a large part of my dealing with IPF for many years. I am now, having been diagnosed in 2006 and aged 81, in an advanced stage of the process and keeping reminding myself as energy levels deplete and SOB increases that isn’t easy. However, may be a integrated approach can be of more benefit than an either/or one. My best wishes for your continuing exploration. You seem to be taking a positive approach to it.

Grace

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