Breathing Technique to Control Asthma?

[RonB1111]

I've had mild asthma for 25 years but 4 months ago an attack occurred and the drs could not get it under control until 1.5 weeks ago. Numerous meRAB including non stop prednisone, nebulizers, multiple inhalers & pills had minimal effect. About 2 weeks ago I found instructions on breathing which was to breath only thru the nose, take shallow breaths, exhale slowly and most importantly expand my stomach on inhale and contract stomach on exhale - no chest expansion or contraction. I began trying to breath this way whenever I thought about it plus anytime I would normally need albuterol. Every time I breathed like this when an attack was starting, the attack would subside without the need for albuterol. My lungs are now clear and I have minimal asthma symptoms. I've been taking so many medications that I don't know if the meRAB finally kicked in to control the asthma or if this breathing technique caused the asthma to come under control. Does anyone have any insights or experience with using breathing to control asthma?

 

[indoubt33m]

asthma has many causes, it is a form of allergy and for different people there are different reasons for an asthmatic attack... sometimes it is even stress...
yes i am an asthmatic for over 23 years now and a smoker for over 11 years... strange but true. there was a time i couldnt stand smoke or be any where near a cigarette smoke... but yes it changed... not something i should be proud about but it is true...
i have a salbutamol inhaler with everytime. there were times in my life when i had to be in the trauma center to breathe through pipes to get my lungs in order, this was before i even started to smoke... but now over the years i hardly use the inhaler and depend only on breathing.
first know your limit, or triggers, stay clear of em... i know when i laugh too hard i can induce wheezing, but i am careful not to push myself, when i know it is around the corner... same applies to physical activity or any smell, smoke, or dust that can cause a trigger...

asthma moves to serious stage when we begin to cough, atleast in my case... so i try to supress my coughs... the irritation in my throat induces more coughs and eventually increasing the effects of wheezing... instead i supress my cough, and control my breathing...

asthma causes you to take short inhaling breathes and prolonged exhaling breathes, which decreases oxygen in the blood, causes you to fatigue, eventually less oxygen to the brain... and worst...reverse is the remedy. control it, fight it, and inhale firmly (not strongly), dont stress yourself, find an open area with fresh air, relax, take deep breathes, just imagine you need all the oxygen you can get, you have it in the air and it is not going anywhere, but u want as much as you can...

try this excersice everyday morning and eventually it will become a part of your system.

again the asthma attack is triggered by the brain when it senses something it doesnot like. so start by ignoring the discomfort, do not react to it strongly mentally or physically, dont even complain about it, calmly get out of the situation and breathe... you will do fine...

at some point you will have the inhaler in your pocket for those just incase quick fixes. keep a inhaler, it is a good mental confidence when you are trying the breathing exercise, you know you have something to fall back on just incase... if you dont have it, control everything you do, breathe, avoid all asthma triggers and breathe, you will be fine...

 

[ktj]

Hi,

Most people are going to say "breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth". What I've found works for me is panting on top of my lungs, fast.Utilize what you have rather than fight to open up areas that will not expand. Obviously use your inhaler allowing at least a couple of minutes between puRAB.That allows time for the first one to work a bit and the second gets much deeper. And don't over use it. I know the temptation is strong.

RegarRAB,