Posts Tagged ‘Buteyko’

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Buteyko Validated in the US by AHRQ study

Sunday, January 13th, 2013

<Like this article? Visit our websites www.asthmacare.us and www.buteykohelponline.com >

Buteyko therapy is gaining more recognition in the US. This new development is especially fortunate for asthmatics, since now they can show the study to their doctors to ask for this valuable addition to standard treatment.  But don’t forget, Buteyko breathing correction benefits overall health and is excellent for a number of other health conditions, even those poorly treated with conventional medicine tools.

Buteyko Validated by Evidenced-Based Best Practice Center as Breathing Technique for Asthmatics that Reduces Symptoms and Medication Usage

The US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, AHRQ, finds the Buteyko breathing technique achieves “medium to large improvements in asthma symptoms and reductions in reliever medications”. The AHRQ findings mirror studies by the British Thoracic Society in 2008 and The Australian Department of Health and Aging in 2005

Press Release – Portland, Oregon, January 08, 2013

The Buteyko Breathing Educators Association, BBEA, praised the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, AHRQ, for its comprehensive review of 22 studies of breathing techniques, which found that Buteyko, a hyperventilation- reduction breathing technique achieves “medium to large improvements in asthma symptoms and reductions in reliever medications” AHRQ, 2012.

AHRQ’s findings represent another milestone for the BBEA. “Buteyko should be considered a frontline of defense in dealing with asthma patients to improve their wellbeing and quality of life.” Chris Bauman, Chairman BBEA.
The AHRQ’s Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, CERs, initiative worked with an Evidenced-Based Practice Center in Portland, Oregon, which was responsible for the findings on the benefits of Buteyko. The BBEA now looks forward to the Buteyko hyperventilation reduction method becoming part of a standard of care for all asthma patients.

The AHRQ findings, mirror the study by the British Thoracic Society in 2008 that showed Buteyko produced “benefits in terms of reduced symptoms and bronchodilator usage” for people suffering with asthma. The Australian Department of Health and Aging in conjunction with the National Asthma Council of Australia in 2005 also opined, after a systematic review of published clinical trials, that Buteyko achieved “a statistically significant and clinically important effect in the treatment of asthma”.

The BBEA believes that equal in importance with these studies, are the experiences of thousands of asthma sufferers who have been helped by qualified Buteyko Educators over the past 50 years. “ After learning the Buteyko Breathing Method I have been free of asthma symptoms and medication usage for nearly eight years. I am now able to log 3,000 miles of bike riding a year here in Bend, OR”. Don Gordon, BBEA Educator.

“For Buteyko educators this is more than just clinical trials and validation by the AHRQ, this is about improving the health of people whose lives have been compromised, and yes, especially the children” Chris Bauman. The CDC reports current asthma rates for children are at 10% of the population and increasing. The greatest increase is among “black children (almost a 50% increase) from 2001 through 2009”, According to the National Center for Health Statistics,NCHS, Data Brief Number 94, May 2012.

About the BBEA
The BBEA is an association of Buteyko Educators committed to training people in the Buteyko Breathing Method. The members of BBEA are required to comply with rigorous teaching and certified standards, along with on-going professional development. This will ensure that anyone who seeks help from a BBEA educator receives the safest, highest quality service and results possible
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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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Animals Breathing rate / life span

Friday, December 30th, 2011

 
Just for fun we’ve compiled a table of animals breathing rate / life span. Not a scientific evidence, but enough to see the connection! Mole and Shrew are “relatives”, as well as House mouse and Bat, but Mole and Bat live in lower oxygen/higher CO2 environment. Their lifespan is times greater than that of above-the-ground “relatives”.

Happy New Year from the Buteyko Clinic!
Breathe less – live healthier and longer!

 

Animal Breathing rate,  breaths/min Life span,  years
Giant Tortoise 4 150
Whale 6 111
Elephant 4-5 (lying down) 70
Horse 8-15 50
Chimpanzee 14 40
Monkeys 32 18-23
Dogs 20-30 10-20
Mole <Underground tunnels> 4
Shrew 140-170 1
House mouse 95-160 1.5-3
Bat <Caves> Up to 40

 
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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.
Visit our websites www.asthmacare.us and www.buteykohelponline.com

Contact us today for a free consultation.

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Flu(s) blues. What to do if virus strikes.

Friday, December 9th, 2011

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The holiday season is here, and we want to look and feel our best. Unfortunately, this time of the year coincides with the beginning of the dreaded increase in upper respiratory infections. People with weakened immune system and chronic respiratory conditions are especially at risk. Instead of loading on OTC cold /flu medications that are not effective, but often create more problems, these simple rules will help you to get over your cold /flu faster and avoid complications.

- To unblock congested nose, perform nose unblocking exercise. Good demonstration of the exercise you can find here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeLqJXRVq-Y

- It is important to ensure nasal breathing all the time; every effort should be put into unblocking your nose, so you don’t mouth breathe.  If you have a severe congestion and nose unblocking exercise helps only partially, natural decongestant sprays (such as with grapefruit seed extract) can be a good add-on. Saline rinses can be very helpful also. For bedtime, if everything else fails, and you cannot breathe through your nose all night, OTC decongestant sprays, such as  Afrin, can be used, but not more than for 3 days.  Decongestant teas can be a good option, but  read the label. For example, overconsumption of licorice, often found in decongestant teas, might elevate blood pressure. Educate yourself on the herbs you are taking, and consume specific herbal teas/supplements in moderation.

- Do Short Breath Holds (SBH) exercise (3-4 sec breathholds) throughout the day, about 10-15 min at a time. A good demonstration of SBH exercise you can find here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDtVGzSH_Uo&feature=related

- If you have fever, chills, fatigue, stay in bed and rest, but if not, try not to stay in bed all day, move  around. Lying down all day long will increase hyperventilation.

- Remember correct way to cough and blow your nose. Do not force cough. Do not blow your nose too hard. When need to cough, take a small breath through the nose, cough gently with your mouth closed or cap mouth and nose with tissue/hand/elbow. Gentle breath holding and quiet breathing with smaller inhales will stop coughing fit before it has a chance to develop. Start doing breath holds after normal exhale at the first sign of cough or if you need to relieve mucus. Sometimes you feel that mucus plug has shifted and makes you congested, but it is “not quite there” to cough it up effortlessly. Gently reducing your breathing together with doing holds will shift the mucus plug, while forcing it out by taking big breaths through the mouth and coughing repeatedly will make your airway constrict more. When blowing nose, blow gently, one nostril at a time, then wipe, then hold your breath for a few seconds.

-  Dental hygiene is very important during upper respiratory infections. Brush and floss your teeth twice a day, clean your tongue with tongue scraper. Sanitize your brush and tongue scraper often. Rinse with natural alcohol free mouthwash that contains herbal extracts and essential oils. Many of them have natural anti-viral / anti-bacterial extracts/oils in them.

- To relieve sore throat, use a solution of baking soda and salt in warm water. Gargle 2-3 times a day (once at bedtime). Don’t drink or eat for at least half an hour after gargling.

- Taking immune boosters might help. Echinacea can be taken at the very first sign of symptoms and continued for three days only. Recent clinical studies confirm that Elderberry can help prevent and relieve flu, including H1N1 virus. Elderberry can be taken for the duration of the flu / cold and as a preventative measure whenever you need a gentle immune boost.

- Drink plenty of liquid. Green and herbal teas and warm water with a bit of fresh lemon juice are the best. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Tea with honey and lemon is excellent for soothing sore throat or relieving that “raw” congested feeling in your chest. Raw local honey is the best, if available.

- If you don’t have appetite, don’t make yourself eat; if you do, it is better to have smaller portions and lighter foods.

- Great foods that will speed up the recovery are homemade chicken soup (made from chicken meat with bones, root and other vegetables) and salads with raw garlic and onion. Raw garlic and onion are natural anti- bacterial and anti-viral foods.

- Try not to lower your temperature until it reaches alarming degrees such as above 102F (39 C)*. Raising temperature is body’s way to fight bacteria / virus. One natural way to gently bring fever down is to take a lukewarm bath (with the  temperature slightly lower than the body temperature).  If your fever is high, you experience weakness or dizziness, be sure you are assisted and supervised while taking a bath, and of course, always supervise children. One of the Russian folk remedies to lower temperature and fight virus is to drink plenty of hot tea with homemade pureed sugared berries or berry preserves, such as raspberry or black currant.  Resulting sweating usually causes drop in  temperature. Interesting, Dr Mercola suggests the tea, which he says works by the same principals.  A tea made from a combination of elderflower, yarrow, boneset, linden, peppermint and ginger; drink it hot and often for combating a cold or flu. It causes you to sweat, which is helpful for eradicating a virus from your system.

* The exception is if you know that you/ your child have a history of seizures or other complications caused by high fever.

- If congestion and mucus persist and become bothersome, breathing exercises such as Short Breath Holds (SBH) or breathholds of about half of your Control Pause (What is Control Pause – How to measure your Control Pause) will help  to shift and expel mucus easier. There are few herbs that are natural expectorants, but be thoroughly informed of what you are taking. Do not take them for a long period of time. If you have lung conditions such as COPD,
pulmonary hypertension, bronchiectasis, consult your doctor before taking any herbal or other expectorant

- Let yourself fully recover and try not to expose yourself to cold temperatures outdoor until your symptoms subside significantly

- Having adequate levels of Vitamin D3 is shown to shorten the duration of the cold/flu and increase resistance to upper  respiratory infections in general. Safe sun exposure is the best way for the body to take and utilize Vitamin D, but in winter months it becomes problematic. Know your Vitamin D level; if you are deficient, take supplements (D3). Probiotic supplements and Cod Liver Oil / Krill oil / Fish oil are other good supplements to take to strengthen immune system and reduce inflammation. Oregano oil is known for strong anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties. Supplementing with Vitamin C and Zinc can be very helpful during upper respiratory infections.

- All these measures should help you shorten the duration of your cold/flu and avoid complications, but if fever persist for more than 5 days, especially if you have lung disease or history of chronic respiratory / ENT infections, visit a doctor to make sure you don’t have pneumonia or other bacterial infection. Other symptoms that should prompt visit to the doctor include ear or sinus pain with a lot of nasal stuffiness or drainage, shortness of breath, cough that is not subsiding after a couple of weeks, coughing up dark colored green or yellow sputum.

- If you were diagnosed with bacterial infection and needed a course of antibiotics, follow by at least one month of probiotic supplements.

- And finally, consider taking a full Buteyko course, such as the one we offer. One of the major advantages of learning the Buteyko Breathing is that once your breathing is physiologically healthy, you become much more resistant to viral, bacterial and fungal infections.  It is that simple –PREVENT upper respiratory infections rather than fight them later.

Have a safe, healthy and joyful Holiday Season!

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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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New Buteyko Children DVD set is available!

Saturday, April 9th, 2011
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TO VIEW OR PURCHASE ALL BUTEYKO BOOKS CLICK HERE
DOES MOUTH BREATHING CREATE UGLY CHILDREN?
DOES MOUTH BREATHING CAUSE SNORING AND SLEEP APNOEA? 
 
 
 
 
 
Toddlers and young children generally have well-defined, broad and good-looking faces. However, a different story emerges with many teenagers. A visit to a high school will uncover many long, narrow and flat faces with sunken cheek bones, receded chins, narrow jaws and prominent noses. So what happens in the interim? Why do children develop crooked teeth and narrow faces?
Many young children have beautifully straight teeth at the age of five or six but the teeth and face can quickly change if they leave their mouth open. Consensus from thousands of oral facial myologists, hygienists, dentists, orthodontists and published papers worldwide is that for the face and, consequently, teeth to develop correctly, a number of factors must be employed by the growing child. Such factors include:

  • Mouth closed with lips gently together;
  • Three quarters of the tongue resting in the roof of the mouth, with the tip of the tongue placed before the front teeth;
  • Breathing through the nose;
  • Correct swallowing;

According to Meredith, 60% of the growth of the face takes place during the first four years of life and 90% takes place by the age of 12. Development of the lower jaw continues until around age 18.
Based on these observations, for correct craniofacial growth to take place, early intervention with nasal breathing and tongue posture is essential. In the words of Dr Carl Schreiner, “The deleterious effects of nasal obstruction are virtually complete by puberty so the window of opportunity is relatively brief. Delay in intervention may result in unsuccessful orthodontic treatment which may require orhthagnathic surgery at an older age”.

WHY DO ANIMALS NOT DEVELOP CROOKED TEETH?

Of all the species on earth, humans are most affected by crooked teeth. The traditional explanation is that the child inherited smaller jaws from his or her mother and larger teeth from his or her father. Could this be true?
In the aptly entitled book, Why Raise Ugly Kids? Dr Hal A. Huggins questions the genetic argument and cites his observation of working on the family farm. One comment is as follows: “Horse and donkey – cross them and you get a fine work animal. Used them a lot on the farm and know what? I never saw a mule with horse’s teeth and a donkeys jaw.”
Dogs, with the exception of those who have been crossbred, are another good example, as the pups of a labrador father and poodle mother will have straight teeth. “Domestic dogs don’t develop malocclusions (crooked teeth) unless they are selectively crossbred for the purpose as with bulldogs”.
According to Australian orthodontist Dr John Flutter, “every child’s face has the growth potential to match its own set of teeth.”Bearing this in mind, Dr Mike Mew advocates that “there is no evidence that we should not accommodate 32 well aligned teeth today or that there has been any genetic change.”

MOUTH BREATHING CAUSES CROOKED TEETH

During the 1960s, dentist Egil P Harvold recognised that “oral respiration associated with obstruction of the nasal airway is a common finding among patients seeking orthodontic treatment.”To determine the relationship between mouth breathing and crooked teeth, he conducted a number of experiments by blocking the noses of young monkeys with silicon nose plugs.
“The experiments showed that the monkeys adapted to nasal obstruction in different ways. In general, the experimental animals maintained an open mouth. All experimental animals gradually acquired a facial appearance and dental occlusion different from those of the control animals.” The mouth-

breathing monkeys developed crooked teeth and other facial deformities, including “a lowering of the chin, a steeper mandibular plane angle, and an increase in the gonial angle as compared with the eight control animals.”
Harvold claimed to be able to reproduce the equivalent of most human dental irregularities; “Any common type of dental irregularity can be produced experimentally in monkeys with normal dentition.”
In support of Harvolds findings, Dr Mew states that “it is hard to escape the conclusion that in monkeys, a change in the action and posture of the
tongue can produce severe malocclusions”.
DOES MOUTH BREATHING CAUSE SNORING AND SLEEP APNOEA?

“Open-mouth breathing during sleep is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and is associated with increased disease severity and upper airway collapsibility.” The study which involved 52 patients found that “the more elongated and narrow upper airway during open-mouth breathing may aggravate the collapsibility of the upper airway and, thus, negatively affect OSA severity.”

In another study, 385 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea were examined through a questionnaire. Results showed that upper airway symptoms were common, with 61% of patients reporting mouth dryness, 52% with nasal stuffiness, 51% with dryness of the nose, 30% with sneezing, 24% with mucus in the throat, and 17% with a runny nose.

Ohki et al. performed a study to determine the relationship between oral breathing and nasal obstruction in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. The study involved 30 normal subjects and 20 patients with snoring or sleep apnoea. Researchers found that chronic nasal obstruction and resultant mouth breathing may induce obstructive sleep apnoea.

In a paper entitled, “How does open-mouth breathing influence upper airway anatomy?”, Lee et al. tested the hypothesis that open-mouth breathing during sleep may increase the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea. After an analysis of 28 patients, researchers concluded that “open-mouth breathing is associated with reduction of the retropalatal and retroglossal areas, lengthening of the pharynx and shortening of the MP-H in the upper airway.”

After reviewing texts and articles on Medline, the centre for research disorders in Cincinnati, Ohio concluded that obstructive sleep apnoea, sleep fragmentation, and disturbed sleep often result from nasal obstruction. The authors of the paper observed that “since breathing through the nose appears to be the preferred route during sleep, nasal obstruction frequently leads to nocturnal mouth breathing, snoring, and ultimately to OSA.”The paper advised that allergic rhinitis and other upper respiratory disorders should be treated more aggressively.

A Polish study noted that children with sleep respiratory disorders wake up tired, with blocked noses, were breathing through their mouth, tire easily, have concentration problems, are irritated, and demonstrate hyperactivity that may resemble ADHD symptoms. The paper further states that “long-term disease leads to exacerbation of all-systemic symptoms, results in cardiovascular complications, induces developmental inhibition and cognitive dysfunction, and is responsible for school/social failures and reduced life quality.”

In a paper entitled, “The nose and sleep disordered breathing: what we know and what we don’t know,” performed an analysis of medical literature on the subject. The analysis confirmed that “SDB (sleep disordered breathing) can both result from and be worsened by nasal obstruction.” It was stated that “nasal congestion typically results in a switch to oronasal breathing that compromises the airway.” Furthermore, “oral (mouth) breathing in children may lead to the development of facial structural abnormalities associated with SDB.” The paper concluded that the change to mouth breathing that occurs with chronic nasal obstruction is a common pathway for sleep-disordered breathing.

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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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Buteyko Courses Online

Friday, February 18th, 2011
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We’ve launched a new website dedicated to Buteyko online courses, self study and online support www.buteykohelponline.com.

Our Buteyko Online Course is a complete educational program that can help you to alleviate symptoms of many chronic diseases, boost the immune system, significantly reduce or eliminate medications, increase energy and stamina, improve athletic performance and overall quality of life. Whether you suffer from a major health condition or just want to learn about the greatest disease prevention tool discovered in the 20th century, we can help!

No matter where you live, you can learn the Buteyko Breathing method by taking our online class without leaving your home, and at your own pace, on your own schedule, while having best practices private sessions with an accredited Buteyko professional.

Latest editions of internationally praised Buteyko books, and visual and audio training materials are provided with each course, as well as a full one year support. That gives you the confidence and freedom to concentrate on healing and move at your own pace. To make it even easier, we offer flexible monthly payments while keeping our low fees and extended support!

The website gives you an overview of the Buteyko Method, as well as description of health problems that might originate form (or might be worsened by) the dysfunctional breathing / chronic hyperventilation. The healing potential of the Buteyko method is powered by doctors and students testimonials that you will also find on our website. Read the description of our Online Course and Phone Consultations, find Sign up Info, buy Self-Study materials and more!www.buteykohelponline.com

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Breathing friendly winter survival tips

Monday, January 17th, 2011
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The winter is in full swing here in Minnesota, USA, and it has been snow-est, coldest winter of the last decade. The reality is, for the most part we are stuck indoor for the next three months.  
Whether it is as bad in your area or not, we’d like to share some winter survival tips to aid healthy breathing.

  • Try to spend at least half an hour outside in any weather, much more if you can

The older we get, the more time we should spend outdoor, K.P. Buteyko said. The exceptions might be if your CP is very low, especially if you are an asthmatic who might have symptoms triggered by cold weather. Covering mouth and nose with a scarf might be an option, more so if it is below freezing point and windy. If your CP and health state permit, exercising outdoor in cold weather is exactly what doctor ordered! Make sure you do not open your mouth to breathe; do any activities you can with nose breathing –walking, snow shoveling, skiing, snowshoeing, sledding. When you feel that nose breathing is not enough for you to sustain the activity, switch to lighter activity or to walking at comfortable speed. If you know you will be warmed up quickly with your activity, don’t overdress yourself. Do not overdress children!

  • Do not set your indoor thermostat too high

Overheated indoor air will promote over-breathing, especially at night. If you have forced air heating, it will likely contribute to air dryness also. Setting thermostat to lowest tolerable temperature at daytime and at least 5 degrees cooler at night time will significantly help your breathing (and your heating bills!). Once a day shut off thermostat, open windows and let fresh air in for 15 – 30 min, especially in the rooms where you spend most of your time. If you can sleep with your bedroom window slightly open, that would aid your breathing immensely.

  • Change your furnace filters often

Another disadvantage of having forced air heating is a constantly circulating dust, molds, allergens, pet hair and other breathing unfriendly particles that are collecting in air ducts. HEPA furnace filter is supposed to collect most of them, especially if you change it often.

  • Check if you need a humidifier in your bedroom

If you wake up with dry sinuses or mouth (even after taping at night), check the humidity level in your bedroom. Run cool mist humidifier at night, if needed.

  • Escape winter blues by joining community pools and athletic clubs

Choose pools with non chlorine disinfection method. When exercising, remember Buteyko breathing rules that should be applied to any physical activity.

  • Forget about comfort food (unless you had 4-5 hours of physical labor outdoor)

A cold winter is always an excuse for comfort food – creamy cheesy soups, meaty stews, bacon, hot chocolate. The truth is, adding those foods to increasingly indoor, sedentary lifestyle that most of us switch to in winter months, is a crime against our breathing. Choose root vegetable soups and stews, fruit and nuts that are in season. Reduce meats, fats and sugar.

  • Make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D

Most of us living in winter climates are Vitamin D deficient. Blood test will show your numbers, but in any case, good food sources of Vitamin D are fatty fish, eggs, mushrooms. Exposure to daylight is what we are mostly missing, and doctor might recommend you to use a DayLight lamp together with Vitamin D supplements.

  • If you are stuck indoor because of poor health, mobility issues or other reasons, double on your Buteyko practice

If you’ve learned Buteyko with us, you already know about quite a few creative ways to sneak your breathing practice into everyday activities. And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for? Give us a call or write to us to find out how smarter breathing can benefit your health!

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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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Back to school. Why our younger generation is so unhealthy?

Friday, September 3rd, 2010
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According to the statistics, we are currently raising the first generation of babies who will not outlive their parents.
Despite a multi-million-dollar medical research and having handful of drugs for each and every condition imaginable, despite living in the wealthiest country in the world. We have infants who have severe asthma and are given nebulizers and steroid based drugs. We have 2-4 year old developing cancer and heart disease. My cousin’s 15 year old son recently had a series of strokes!

Respiratory and food allergies, recurrent ear and sinus infections, low immunity, poor dental health, misaligned teeth, eczema and other skin conditions are now considered to be typical components of childhood. Exercise-induced asthma is found in more than one-third of college athletes. Over the past two decades, the obesity rate for children has doubled, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. For adolescents, the picture is worse: More than three times as many are now obese.

What about mental and emotional health? In 1990, 900,000 American kids were on Ritalin. Today some estimate the total number of children on Ritalin has increased to 4 – 5 million or more per year. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has warned about a record six-fold increase in Ritalin production between 1990 & 1995. America now uses 90% of the world’s Ritalin – more than five times the rest of the world combined.

More than 500,000 children and adolescents in America are now taking antipsychotic drugs, according to a September 2009 report by the FDA. Their use is growing not only among older teenagers, when schizophrenia is believed to emerge, but also among tens of thousands of preschoolers. A Columbia University study recently found a doubling of the rate of prescribing antipsychotic drugs for privately insured 2- to 5-year-olds from 2000 to 2007. (NY Times Child’s Ordeal Shows Risks of Psychosis Drugs for Young )

In 2007 it was reported that the suicide rate for 10- to-24-year-olds increased by 8 percent, the largest single-year rise in 15 years, according to a report released in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Teen suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among young adults and adolescents 15 to 24 years of age.

We have to understand that development of all chronic diseases, including neurological, brain and mental disorders, has few things in common: tissues starvation of oxygen, metabolic imbalances, excessive excitability of nerve cells, under- or over- production of important hormones, deficiency in vital nutrients and malfunctions of the immune system. The majority of those disturbances, either directly or indirectly, could be the result of chronic hyperventilation.

Why such young kids are affected? Starting with pregnant mothers, women hyperventilate during pregnancy, and that is as dangerous for the baby as lack of nutrients, smoking or alcohol. Lack of education on healthy breathing and dangers of hyperventilation, plus deep breathing that is often taught to pregnant women, add to the problem.

Then, when a child is born, many practices in modern hospitals and neonatal care encourage over-breathing. Swaddling infants is unfortunately a lost tradition. Newborns with signs of respiratory distress are given supplemental oxygen. Later infants and young children are introduced to unnatural diets like most formulas, sugars, white breads, deep fried food, hydrogenated oils, food dyes etc. Children are overfed, overdressed, lack essential physical activity and inevitably start mouth breathing. On top of that, modern society’s stresses enter child’s mind very early and are not properly addressed.

In conclusion, below is a quote from Rosemary MacGregor RN, MS, who, working in traditional health care system, nevertheless understood the vital connection between breathing and health and tried to educate doctors and patients on the importance of breathing awareness and dangers of hyperventilation.
I am a nurse and I can honestly say we were never properly trained in this area, nor are the doctors. I have given many a talk on teaching breathing around the world and have never had a doctor not totally appreciate my information. I have read the respiratory text books doctors are trained with in medical school. It is more likely that you have unlearned very early the good breathing you were born with if you were an average kid. In the United States most children by three years old are over-breathing. Awareness is the only key we have to staying ‘as best we can’ on target with proper breathing. With awareness, we need the knowledge of what to do, and then how to change our habitual breathing response to that situation in that moment.
Rosemary MacGregor RN, MS

Buteyko therapy addresses all the root causes of chronic diseases. We, as parents, always want the best for our children. It is essential to teach them Buteyko, even if they are not sick or have what seems to be a very minor health problem.


Wishing you a healthy school year!

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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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You’ve asked

Friday, August 27th, 2010
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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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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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Buteyko for anxiety (part 1)

Thursday, July 15th, 2010
<Like this article? Visit our websites www.asthmacare.us and www.buteykohelponline.com >
 
In this two-part article we are introducing Patrick McKeown’s new book Anxiety free: stop worrying and quieten your mind. Two hundred and forty pages of beautifully written and illustrated self help book is a must-read for everybody! Below we randomly selected a few chapters for you. The Anxiety free e-book is available for purchase on our website.  
 Prologue 
This book is for any person who wishes to have clearer functioning of his or her mind and not to be bogged down with useless thinking. Within three weeks the result will be more control over thoughts, better concentration, more energy, more joy, happiness and appreciation for life. This is a simple and straightforward self-help book approached from two different and yet related perspectives.The first is about correcting breathing volume using a physician-developed programme known as the Buteyko Breathing Method. Chronic overbreathing is a habit present with any person who experiences stress, anxiety, panic attacks and depression. It causes both a constriction of blood vessels and reduced delivery of oxygen to tissues and organs, most notably the brain. The Buteyko Method is a simple approach that significantly improves oxygenation of the brain, resulting in far less brain cell excitability.The second aspect deals with recognising the activity of the mind, the nature of thought and how to step out of thought. This too is essential to understanding your mind and taking control.The mind is regarded as the most important capability of the human species. Yet, most people have little control over it as it races from thought to thought. Mind activity, stress, depression and anxiety are nothing more than the absence of control. How much control do you have over your mind? For how long can you choose to stop thinking?

A quiet mind is one that you have control over. Quite simply, you can choose to think or not to think. You don’t get lost in trains of useless thinking. Most of the time, you know what is taking place. Without control over our minds, we have nothing. It is the one part of us that determines our quality of life on earth, yet it receives little attention from our educational, religious and medical institutions. How insane is that?

If only you had a chance to look inside people’s minds, you would see the same turmoil that goes on in your own head. Hidden behind the nice white smile is fear of the future and regrets from the past. A racing and repetitive mind is just below the surface. It might not have reached the depths that someone in depression has reached, but at the same time, you will see common traits. In fact, all of us are just a few stressful events away from mental problems. Cumulative stressful events take their toll on everybody unless, of course, we have some understanding of thought processes and can better oxygenate our brain.

In our sophisticated Western world with its emphasis on intelligence and the stigma on mental problems, normal healthy people who go through periods of being down or depressed have few outlets through which to seek help. Addressing this deficit early on is the key to reversing it.

My interest in this area stems from having both asthma and a racing mind for many years. By using the Buteyko Method to reverse my asthma and by improving my awareness, I also addressed my racing mind. Thousands have attended my courses in Ireland and abroad for asthma and other conditions. Those who have attended for panic attacks, depression, stress and anxiety have reported very good feedback; hence, this book.

This book can be read by someone with poor concentration, or a clouded and depressed mind. It contains nothing complicated and through constant repetition, the reader can apply the guidance provided.

Overbreathing causes depression, stress and anxiety

Lower carbon dioxide within the blood causes a constriction of the carotid artery, the main blood vessel going to the brain.

The extent of constriction depends on genetic predisposition but has been estimated by Gibbs (1992) to be as much as 50% for those with anxiety and panic attacks.(3)
This finding is also supported by Ball & Shekhar (1997).(4)
Other researchers, including Balestrino and Somjen (1988)(5) and Huttunen et al. (1999),(6) have demonstrated that CO2 reduces cortical excitability.

Cited in Normal Breathing: the key to vital health, “breathing too much makes the human brain abnormally excited due to reduced CO2 concentrations. As a result, the brain gets literally out of control due to appearance of spontaneous and asynchronous (‘self-generated’) thoughts.”

Balestrino and Somjen (1988) in their summary directly claimed that, “The brain, by regulating breathing, controls its own excitability.”(7)

Dr Robert Fried, professor of psychology, states that “the first stage of chronic graded hypoxia (insufficient oxygen), which has repeatedly been shown in the case of chronic hyperventilation, is depression of mood and activity.”(8)

Cardiologist Claude Lum comments that “Hyperventilation presents a collection of bizarre and often apparently unrelated symptoms, which may affect any part of the body, and any organ or any system.”(9)

He further labels hyperventilation syndrome as the fat file syndrome, noting that patients go from doctor to doctor in an attempt to get help for their symptoms. However, because chronic hyperventilation is overlooked in most instances, the patient might be told after a series of tests that there is nothing wrong with him or her, thus increasing the size of the patients’ file and further adding to his or her anxiety.

In the late Professor Buteyko’s words, “Exhaling Carbon Dioxide from the organism brings about spasms in bronchi, vessels and intestines, etc. This reduces oxygen supply, leading to oxygen deficiency, making one’s breath heavier, thus completing the vicious circle.”

(to be continued)

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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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The Control Pause demystified

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

<Like this article? Visit our websites www.asthmacare.us and www.buteykohelponline.com >

The Control Pause is the main measurement tool of Buteyko theory and practice. It is essentially an indicator of our health. It reflects our Minute ventilation (breathing volume per minute), which for a healthy person should be 4-6 liters/minute at rest.

Numerous studies show that Minute ventilation in subjects with many modern chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and others, is three to five times greater than in healthy subjects. Over time, greater breathing volumes cause drastic changes in our bodies, such as PH balance disturbances, spasms in smooth muscles and blood vessels, and oxygen starvation in tissue.

That’s why to keep your Minute ventilation at norm is as important as to keep at norm your blood pressure, blood glucose, BMI, blood cholesterol and other health parameters. 

You don’t need special tools to test your Minute ventilation. Healthy Minute ventilation corresponds with a certain concentration of Carbon Dioxide in your alveolar air. Professor Buteyko discovered that it is measured by how long a person can comfortably suspend their breathing. The parameter was named a Control Pause, or CP, for short.

Why the time of breath suspension was chosen as a measurement? Breathing is regulated by our brain. Logically, a simple measurement of regulating mechanism’s work can be done by deliberately stopping the process (breathing) and waiting until the  regulating mechanism (brain) signals to breathing muscles to initiate the process (to take the next breath).  Why on exhale? Because after normal exhale the volume of air in the lungs and the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide least depend on fluctuating breathing pattern.

So, to measure the Control Pause,  breathing after normal exhale should be suspended, and the time should be measured until the first desire to breathe.

To my experience, many students have difficulty determining  when exactly they feel the first desire to breathe. As we mentioned above, it should not be brain’s psychological instruction (panic, emotional response etc), but the instruction  of the breathing regulating mechanism, i.e. push of respiratory muscles -  of diaphragm,  thorax or  larynx. Usually a person would experience a push of the diaphragm, throat or both.  You’ll know that you didn’t overextend if your breath after letting go is not larger than the initial breath.

To learn more visit our Health Check page.

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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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