Posts Tagged ‘athletic asthma’

What sports are best for asthma?

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

<Like this article? Visit our website www.asthmacare.us >

The question really should be What sports are best for MY asthma?, or  What sports are best for the current state of my respiratory health?

 Depending on your breath control physical activity can be highly  beneficial, have no beneficial effect or it can be harmful. So if you ask Is swimming, running etc  good for me , the answer is it could be good for you if you know when and how to perform physical activity to get maximum health benefits  and not to exacerbate your health condition.

Aerobic type exercise is a good way to quickly build up Carbon Dioxide thus it is very beneficial from the Buteyko point of view. However, if you are a moderate to severe asthmatic with below 20 sec CP, it might be difficult for you to keep up nasal breathing during such exercises (a strict rule of Buteyko).  And breathing through your mouth will likely bring on your asthma symptoms and won’t be helpful for your overall health improvement goals.

If you are using a bronchodilator every time before aerobic exercise or regularly have symptoms, you are not ready to participate in such intense exercise.  Moderate to severe asthmatics  don’t generally have enough  Carbon Dioxide to get past the beginning of aerobic exercises stage where the breathing deepens significantly but their CO2 level is so low that any further  “leak” will bring on the body’s defense mechanism – airway spasm.  Hence exercise induced asthma that usually strikes shortly after the beginning of the routine.

The solution is to improve your breathing with the Buteyko Method to the point where you are able to sustain such physical activity without asthma symptoms and need for bronchodilators.  While your CP is moving up your physical activities should be adjusted according to your respiratory health.  A Buteyko Practitioner will help you with detailed recommendations for your particular level.

Generally speaking if your (or your child’s) CP is less than 35 sec avoid following activities

  • Robust or prolonged intensive effort sports like soccer, high-skill gymnastics, track and field, and basketball
  • Cold environment sports such as ice skating, ice hockey, snow skiing
  • Professional sports involvement with exhausting routines, extended training hours etc  
  • Sports that  involves allergens you are sensitive to (for some it could be  swimming in the pools, horseback riding, golf)

Consider gentler activities such as

  • baseball/softball
  • golf
  • martial arts
  • fencing
  • volleyball
  • horseback riding



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Buteyko Clinic USA offers unique breathing rehabilitation programs that result in long term drug free control over asthma, allergies, COPD, rhinitis, chronic cough, snoring, sleep apnea, anxiety, panic, chronic hyperventilation syndrome and other chronic conditions. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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Posted in Asthma and sports, Buteyko Method | 4 Comments »

Why are elite athletes prone to asthma?

Saturday, February 20th, 2010
 <Like this article? Visit our website www.asthmacare.us>

The Winter Olympics continue in Vancouver, Canada, and I just came across the New York Times article “Why Do So Many Winter Olympians Have Asthma?” by GRETCHEN REYNOLDS.

Exercise-induced asthma has been diagnosed in as many as half of all elite cross-country skiers and almost as many world-class ice skaters and hockey players. It’s far more common in winter athletes than in those who compete in the summer, although nearly 17 percent of Olympic-level distance runners have been given the same diagnosis.

Wondering why this might be, the author looks to doctors and researchers for the answers. First they suggest that:

Exercise-induced asthma is not quite the same condition as asthma. According to  Dr. Christopher Randolph, a clinical professor at Yale University (Center for Allergy, Asthma and Immunology), the “preferred term” in the scientific community for exercise-induced asthma is exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, or E.I.B. “It’s a reversible, obstructive airway disease” that typically begins about five minutes after you stop exercising — particularly if your exercise was intense, “at between 85 and 95 percent of maximum heart rate,” Dr. Randolph says.

The first suggestion is that cooling and drying of the airways contribute to the development of exercise-related asthma symptoms. And there is a genetic factor, but
… pinpointing genetic susceptibilities to E.I.B. doesn’t answer the question of why it strikes so disproportionately among the world’s best athletes, especially those in winter sports.

And finally,
This theory posits that E.I.B. is, in some fashion, a sports injury. “What we think is happening,” Dr. Randolph says, is that elite endurance athletes, especially those training more than 20 hours a week, actually “injure their airways” by breathing so much and so hard. “They take in up to 200 liters of air per minute,” he says, in comparison to perhaps five or six liters per minute at rest, all of which must be humidified.

At the end of the article, I was pleased to read that in addition to their advice about visiting a doctor and drug treatments, there were a couple of simple and sound recommendations such as Breathe through your nose and Warm up for at least 5 to 15 minutes.

While doctors and researchers look for answers, professional and amateur athletes can find them through the principals and practice of the Buteyko Breathing Method. Exercise-induced asthma (or EIA) causes breathing difficulty usually 5-20 minutes after starting intense physical activity, or shortly after stopping the activity. Yes, there is always a genetic factor, and yes, EIA occurs more easily in cold, dry environments, therefore, drying and cooling of the airways plays a role.

But the core reason is that during certain points of sports activities, the athlete’s lungs are ventilated more than their metabolism requires. The frequent large breaths in and out results in loss of CO2, which is not compensated properly by CO2 production due to the increased physical activity. As a result, the defense mechanism (airway constriction) activates. If you recall from the article, doctor Randolph said They take in up to 200 liters of air per minute (as opposed to 4-6 liters per minute at rest). And here lies the answer as to why EIA strikes shortly after starting intense physical activity or shortly after stopping the activity. That’s when the balance between CO2 production and ventilation is most out of proportion.

There is an easy solution to this problem. One of AsthmaCare students, a basketball player, writes:
I have a significant improvement with Exercise-Induced Asthma. I played a basketball game early on after starting the Buteyko Course and found that using the need to mouth breathe as a guideline to activity level, I had a great game. I recovered much quicker and could play at a satisfactory level. I am very pleased and motivated to continue bringing up my CP.

Another student who took a course just for wellbeing and physical endurance said:
When I exercise at the gym now, I am watching people mouth breathing, huffing and puffing through the same intensity routine I do with nasal breathing. I exercise to greater lengths with less effort, and I feel energized, not exhausted, after that.

By following the Buteyko Course recommendations you will be able to advance your fitness level and avoid breathlessness, wheezing and coughing during sports participation as well as fatigue after sports activities.



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Buteyko Clinic USA offers unique breathing rehabilitation programs that result in long term drug free control over asthma, allergies, COPD, rhinitis, chronic cough, snoring, sleep apnea, anxiety, panic, chronic hyperventilation syndrome and other chronic conditions. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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Posted in Asthma, Asthma and sports, Buteyko Method | No Comments »

You’ve asked…

Friday, August 7th, 2009
 <Like this article? Visit our website www.asthmacare.us>

We are starting a series of “FAQ style” blog articles that are inspired by your questions, concerns and search inquiries. If you don’t find your question here, feel free to ask.

Sometimes I have a repeated yawning attack that is hard to stop. This occurs most often after a big meal. Why?
Repeated yawning or involuntary sighing is a typical sign of hyperventilation.  Every meal, especially a heavy one, increases our breathing; therefore, hyperventilation symptoms will likely appear after a big meal. 

Can my asthma drugs cause fatigue and impaired athletic performance?
There are two main categories of asthma drugs – bronchodilators (relievers) and steroid-based drugs (preventers).  Both have various side effects, but bronchodilators are more likely to cause unpleasant symptoms such as heart palpitations, dizziness, tremor and fatigue.  Bronchodilators chemically force the airway to stay open for prolonged periods of time, adding to the problem of hyperventilation. That, in turn, might produce more asthma symptoms, fatigue and impaired athletic performance.

What kind of asthma is best treated with Buteyko?
Any kind and severity of asthma can be treated equally well. It is likely that a person with severe (typically steroid-dependant) asthma will need a longer recovery time as opposed to a person with mild or exercise-induced-only asthma.

How can I tell if I chronically over-breathe?  What are chronic hyperventilation symptoms?
According to the Buteyko theory, hyperventilation is causing a loss of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) in the alveolar air in the lungs. It was established as a result of many years of research and clinical application that a person’s  breathhold  length ( called the Control Pause*) is an accurate measure of alveolar CO2 concentration, and therefore  an accurate measure of that person’s degree of hyperventilation.  By doing a Control Pause test, a person can measure their degree of hyperventilation.  Values below 40 sec are considered below normal.  The lower the value is, the greater the degree of hyperventilation.
Chronic Hyperventilation causes a wide variety of symptoms. For a short list of typical symptoms, refer to “Overbreathing signs and symptoms”  on our Buteyko Education page. To determine if your particular symptoms might be caused by hyperventilation, request a free consultation with a Practitioner.
*Control Pause test is not just any breathhold. For the correct procedure description, refer to Test to determine if you overbreathe  on our Buteyko Education page or to Buteyko method literature. 

What is a nebulizer treatment?
Many respiratory disorders are treated by means of nebulization. This procedure consists of administering medication, in the form of droplets that are suspended in air, into the respiratory tract. The patient inhales medication as a fine mist. Nebulization therapy can be used with many different types of drugs, such as drugs that relax the smooth muscle of the airways, drugs that loosen mucus, and antibiotics.

What is COPD? How is it different from Asthma?
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a type of respiratory disorder characterized by chronic and recurrent obstruction of airflow, which increases airway resistance. The principal types of COPD are Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis.  The most common cause is cigarette smoking. Other causes include pulmonary infections and occupational exposure to dust and gases. 
Emphysema is a disorder characterized by destruction of the walls of the alveoli (air sacks), producing abnormally large spaces that remain filled with air during exhalation. With less surface area for gas exchange, oxygen diffusion across the damaged respiratory membrane is reduced. Any mild exercise leaves the patient breathless. As increasing numbers of alveolar walls become damaged, the lungs lose elasticity, and an increasing amount of air becomes trapped in the lungs at the end of exhalation.
Chronic Bronchitis is a disorder characterized by excessive secretion of bronchial mucus and accompanied by a cough with mucus. Cigarette smoke is the leading cause of Chronic Bronchitis.  The thickened and excessive mucus produced narrows the airways and impairs function of cilia – tiny hair-like structures assisting in moving irritants along airways. Inhaled pathogens become embedded in airway secretions and multiply rapidly.
The difference between asthma and COPD is that in COPD there is a loss of tissue elasticity and a destruction of peripheral parts of the lung.

Can Buteyko help with COPD?
Yes, patients with COPD can be helped depending on the degree of lung tissue damage. Usually, if such patients feel relief after using their bronchodilator medication, they can be helped with the Buteyko Method.  Learning the Buteyko Method will help them to have fewer symptoms, feel less breathless on exertion and to increase their quality of life.  

Check often for more answers!



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Buteyko Clinic USA offers unique breathing rehabilitation programs that result in long term drug free control over asthma, allergies, COPD, rhinitis, chronic cough, snoring, sleep apnea, anxiety, panic, chronic hyperventilation syndrome and other chronic conditions. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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Posted in Asthma, Buteyko Method | 2 Comments »

Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA). Shouldn’t athletic youth be the healthiest?

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

Recently I’ve come across this startling headline:

A U.S. study discovered signs of exercise-induced asthma in more than one-third of college athletes assessed for breathing problems.
Researchers at Ohio State University Medical Center screened 107 Ohio State varsity athletes for exercise-induced asthma. Forty-two, or 39 percent, of the athletes tested positive, and 36 of those 42 athletes had no prior history of asthma, the study reported in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.  (Exercise-induced asthma common in college)

EIA statistics among children and young adults is getting increasingly troublesome. PE teachers at school are taught regularly how to deal with Exercise Induced Asthma in children. 

Minnesota Department of Health guide called Asthma: Practical Tips For P.E. & H.E. Teachers states the following facts

According to National Health Interview Survey 2001

● Approximately 2.5 students in a class of 30 are likely to have asthma (Asthma in Children Fact Sheet, American Lung Association, June 17 2003)
● Is the most common chronic disease causing absence from school (Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use, and Mortality, 2000 –01, National Center for Health Statistic)
● 1 in 13 school children have asthma
● 6.3 million children under 18 have asthma
● 5 Minnesota students died of asthma in 2002
● 33% of all identified school related asthma deaths (1990 2003) occurred during a school sporting event or during PE class (Minnesota Center for Health Statistics Centers for Disease Control, 2004)

According to a Minneapolis Public School survey 2002

● 76% of respondents observed and/or assisted student/s with asthma problems in the past year
● 51.5% of respondents reported being uncomfortable assisting with asthma episodes
● 91% of P.E. teachers have seen students 9carry and use inhalers before P.E. class
● 68% observed students going to the health office before P.E. class
● 100% observed inhaler use during P.E.
● 24% observed students using someone else’s inhaler
● 77% observed students going to the health office or using their inhaler after P.E. class for asthma symptoms

What is EIA?

Exercise induced asthma (or EIA) causes breathing difficulty usually 5-20 minutes after starting intense physical activity or shortly after stopping.  It is more common among children than adults. Ninety precent of diagnosed asthmatics have EIA.
EIA occurs more easily in cold, dry environments than in those that are warmer and more humid.

Sports activities that are less likely to trigger EIA:

  • Swimming (however, some people get worsening of their asthma from swimming pools’ chlorine fumes)
  • Walking
  • Leisure biking
  • Hiking
  • Free downhill skiing

    • Team sports that require short bursts of energy , including:

  • Baseball
  • Football
  • Wrestling
  • Golfing
  • Gymnastics
  • Short-distance track and field events

    • Sports that require continuous activity or are cold weather activities are more likely to trigger EIA:

  • Soccer
  • Basketball
  • Long-distance running
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Hockey

    • Many children do not tell their parents when they experience symptoms, but rather complain of not being able to perform as well as their classmates.  Some even express a dislike for sports.  Still others think it is normal to get short of breath during exercise.  Exercise Induced Asthma, therefore, may lead to problems with peers and teachers and low self-esteem.  Eventually, reluctance to participate in athletics will have a negative effect on their overall health.

    So should people with EIA avoid exercise?
    Absolutely not.     In fact, exercise is even more important for asthmatics than for other people. When applying Buteyko Method, as students progress, exercise becomes an essential part of their recovery.

    EIA can be overcome.
    While traditionally doctors have been puzzled about EIA and think this was a different form of asthma, Buteyko theory offers a rational explanation.  In the very beginning and shortly after the end of the exercise, loss of Carbon Dioxide due to hyperventilation exceeds its accumulation due to physical activity.
    The AsthmaCare Program teaches patients how to overcome Exercise Induced Asthma and improve their sports performance.  Following recommendations, anybody will be able to advance their fitness level and avoid breathlessness, fatigue, wheezing and coughing. Even healthy athletes who want to excel in an endurance activity with strenuous demands are going to benefit immensely from normalization of breathing.

    So, what about our question, “Shouldn’t athletic youth be the healthiest?”  Yes, they should.  Furthermore, if the foundation of correct breathing is taught within families and at schools, they will be.
    To rephrase Lao Tzu’s quote:
    Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
    I would say:
    Give a child an inhaler and you stop his asthma for a day.  Teach him how to breathe correctly, and you’ll stop his asthma for a lifetime.



    ——————————————————————————————————
    Buteyko Clinic USA offers unique breathing rehabilitation programs that result in long term drug free control over asthma, allergies, COPD, rhinitis, chronic cough, snoring, sleep apnea, anxiety, panic, chronic hyperventilation syndrome and other chronic conditions. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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    Posted in Asthma and sports | No Comments »