Medical News

As infants, all of us have already been practicing proper breathing; that’s a fact. Try observing small children, when they breathe it is not the upper chest that does most of the work, this is because smaller children and infants use their lower respiratory organs to breathe. For most part this breathing method utilizes the lower respiratory organs, meaning; diaphragm and abdomen. This in turn balances pressure within the three major respiratory organs and assures full oxygen circulation all throughout the body.

As we grow older sadly we either tend to forget this method or we are taught differently. Most of us have been informed that the proper way of breathing would be chest breathing, for so long most have been fed with this idea that breathing using the abdomen and diaphragm is not only improper but also unnecessary.

Now science has proven this otherwise as breathing using the chest muscles alone weakens the other breathing organs and puts entire pressure on the upper respiratory organ which is the chest. This can lead to shortness of breath, inefficient lung usage and for asthmatics, can even trigger or worsen their condition. But this method of incorrect breathing can be reversed through the use of breathing techniques.

Breathing techniques like Pranayama, Buteyko, and Papworth have been known to help a lot of asthmatics deal and successfully manage their condition by correcting erroneous methods of breathing. While these three may differ in core principles and base techniques, each of them provides common sense methods along with rational explanations as to why some asthma causes and breathing are in a sense, highly related.

Take Buteyko for example. The particular formulation of this technique was based on the premise that asthmatics tend to over-breathe during flare-ups and attacks thereby worsening the condition. It has also further concluded and proven that hyperventilation caused by over-breathing highly diminishes the affectivity of carbon dioxide within the body to ease inflamed respiratory muscles. Papworth although slightly similar in terms of techniques, revolves around its core principle, which is the importance of nasal and diaphragmatic breathing as well as the individual development of breathing patterns within each individual to suit every activity, which also minimizes, if not, eliminates the chances of EIA or exercise induced asthma.

Pranayama on the other hand have long been used in India and is, in one way or another basis for the development and eventually creation of the Buteyko breathing method. This yogic method has been known to teach individuals the achievement of greater well-being through the use of breathing alone. Even from a simple standpoint asthma causes and breathing are in a way, have been, and always related. If you would like to know more about any of the methods mentioned above, check the internet for medical journals or articles, you never know, you might actually find the alternative that you have so long been looking for as well.

Relaxation is the key to good breathing and so is emotion, the more positive the emotion the better the breathing. Anxiety, fear, stress and tension all quicken breathing and make it shallower; pleasure, contentment and emotional and physical well being deepen and strengthen your breathing. Both conventional and complementary medicine understands the importance of good breathing.

But in some ancient systems it is the cornerstone of health, Indian holy men or yogis practice panorama, or deep breathing, to calm the mind and spirit. In traditional Chinese medicine, harmony comes when your inner life energy is at one with the life energy in the air around you. Shallow breathing is when you inhale an inadequate amount of air, largely because you have not exhaled enough air, is common and can have harmful effects on the body.

The key to avoiding shallow breathing is to concentrate on breathing out. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, sighing as you do so. Every time you sit down, breathe out long and slow. Aim for a count of five on every out breath. When you walk, count two on each in breath and two on each out breath. Gradually increase the count on each out breath to five.

Your doctor can keep symptoms at bay, but if you stop taking medication, they may return, often worst than before. Also many of these ailments may have a psychological origin, caused by difficulties at work or at home, poor housing conditions and so on, and they derive much benefit from the holistic approach. The healthy functioning of the lungs is, of course, a vital part of the body’s survival mechanism. When the tubes carrying air to the lungs become inflamed an asthma attack occurs.