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I live at a high elevation (5000+’) and I am having a hard time getting my cp over 30. When I go to sea level it comes right up and conversely when I go higher it goes down. Can anyone explain this to me and maybe at 5000′ my cp is right where it should be? Also, I am experiencing pretty severe cleaning responses. Lots of anxiety, insomnia, upper respiratory events (colds etc). I am 65 years old and my cp to begin was about 7. My symptom was chronic throat clearing which has significantly improved. Thank you A.
Dear A,
There are few separate issues in your question. Higher altitude is a more hypoxic (less oxygen) environment. Few research studies have been done on how such environment is influencing our health, longevity and risk of widespread chronic diseases. In short, the conclusion is that living long term at higher altitudes, especially being born and consistently living there, is a very positive factor for our health and longevity. However when people move from one environment to another frequently or move to higher altitudes midlife etc. that can make them feel worse and experience different degrees of unpleasant symptoms or sickness. It is very individual, and some might adapt relatively quickly. From the Buteyko point of view it is explainable. When we fully adapt to more hypoxic (less oxygen) environment, especially being born and living significant part of life there, such environment is aiding in maintaining healthier O2 – CO2 balance, thus better health. However, nearly all modern people hyperventilate to a different degree, and for many sick people the degree of hyperventilation is high (very low CPs). Such people are overly sensitive to hypoxic environment, which produces even more over-breathing when they travel to higher altitudes, which in turn might cause symptoms worsening and more difficulties raising CP. That explains CP going up and down with changing altitude, and you might indeed experience worsening of symptoms when you are at higher altitude. For very healthy people (CP over 40) such changes will unlikely produce noticeable negative effects, so the solution here is again to work on increasing your CP. Because of being at higher altitude or changing altitudes you might experience more difficulties with your Buteyko training, however, that brings us to the second issue that many people at any altitudes are indeed experiencing difficulties in raising their CPs, and that should be worked out, ideally, with your practitioner. You and he/she have to look at possible reasons, including your lifestyle, to analyze and identify what is stalling your progress and suggest routines to move your CP up. Another issue is that if you never worked with a Practitioner, you might not measure your CP correctly. At CP of 30 people usually don’t have frequent viral infections and lots of anxiety. Remember, your consistent morning CP is most important indicator of your true CP.
Can either control pause, nasal clearing and mouth taping be used during pregnancy, in the first trimester? 6 weeks pregnant? many thanks for your help, G.
Dear G,
First trimester of pregnancy (even up to 16 weeks) is a very fragile time when risk of miscarriage is highest; for that reason we strongly recommend that pregnant women only work with an experienced Practitioner who can monitor them and adjust routines on continuous basis. It is difficult to give you a solid advice not knowing your history, e.g. did you have miscarriages or troubled pregnancies in the past, did you do Buteyko before you got pregnant, what is your current CP, what other health conditions do you have, medications, night sleep etc ?
Below are some general guidelines and considerations but to have a Practitioner to guide and monitor you would be the safest and most effective route to go. During initial stages of pregnancy, especially when CP is low, the cleansing reactions can be dangerous to the fetus, therefore pregnant women during first three-four months should have a “defensive” course of action aimed at prevention of CO2 losses. That should include watching not to mouth breathe, tape mouth at night, maintain good posture, not to overeat, address night sleep to minimize hyperventilation, walk or do any other physical activities with mouth closed etc. Practicing relaxed breathing without air hunger and occasionally measure a control pause (COMFORTABLE breath hold, DO NOT OVEREXTEND!) should be safe. When you do a nose clearing exercise, again, DO NOT OVEREXTEND the breath-hold. After 16 weeks of pregnancy the intensity of the Breathing retraining is very individual, depending on the general condition of the pregnant woman. Still, only an easy or moderate level of intensity is recommended.
It is advisable that women who are planning pregnancy should enroll in Buteyko course and raise their CP before they get pregnant.
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