Breathing Exercises For Asthma

Asthma is a breathing disorder of the respiratory system and in order to control asthma we have to do some exercises on daily basis. These exercises involve manipulation of the breathing pattern and include deep breathing, relaxation sessions and other exercises. If done regularly and properly, it would provide a simple self control by asthmatics. These exercises the patient can easily do for himself, and with a minimal amount of perseverance and energy, he can acquire the necessary control of the respiratory muscles, and thereby improve his condition to quite a large extent.

In the case of the asthma patients the main aim of the breathing exercises is to relax the chest muscles. Chest muscles are normally under tremendous exertion in asthma patients. The patients are constantly advised to consciously relax the chest muscles while indulging in any activity that causes exertion to their system like walking up a slope, or walking upstairs, or indulging in any sporting or sexual activity. The patient is taught to relax his arms, legs and thorax. The patients are also taught to sleep in a way that is relaxing to the chest muscles.

The patient is made to learn to lie down on one side with two pillows under the head, the upper arm and legs should be flexed forward. The patients who are slightly aging or suffering with emphysema find it very relaxing to lie down with higher pillows. Also head of the bed can be raised slightly for more comfortable lying position while sleeping and to relax respiratory muscles while sleeping. Regularly doing a few toe touching exercises and sit-ups everyday is important as it makes the abdominal muscles strong. But care should be taken to not overdo the exercises as they may exert the system and even cause damage.

The two main types of breathing exercises those are helpful in asthma. Yoga is a powerful therapy that is being widely used to reduce the severity and frequency of asthma attacks as well as the use of medication. Yoga and pranayama when done consistently, increases the airflow, air capacity, stamina and efficiency of the lungs in patients. Pranayama is an effective breathing technique of yoga that helps to maintain relaxed and controlled breath. Pranayama is a sanskrit word meaning ‘control of the life force'. To achieve control over the life force, two steps are to be followed control of the body through posture and control of breath.

The recent study of Research Center for Asthma and Airways showed that asthmatics who undertook regular breathing exercises reduced their prevented medication levels by up to half and reliever use by up to 86%. The importance of breathing exercises is not well practiced in the treatment of asthma. An asthma patient breathes in an unnatural way by using only the upper portion of the chest. This is very unnatural for the system as the full chest is not used in this way.

Over the period of time the patient develops weakness of chest muscles as the muscles are not being used properly. It is advisable for the asthma patients to do breathing exercises as they can really help build up the chest muscles involved in respiration and can contribute towards saving a person's life at the time of an attack.