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Despite advances in conventional and alternative health care, better medications and the increased availability of asthma education, there has been little decline in hospitalizations , ER visits, unscheduled health care visits, and missed school or work days because of asthma over the last 10 years, according to the comprehensive Asthma Insight and Management (AIM) nationwide survey .
While asthma and other chronic lung conditions are a huge burden on our health care system, large doses of asthma medications over time becomes a heavy burden on your body. For moderate to severe asthmatics, it is often a difficult choice between continuous use of medication and risking side effects, or neglecting the medication and risking debilitating symptoms.
There have not been asthma-remedy breakthroughs in decades. Bronchodilators, mostly of the Beta Agonist drug class, and corticosteroids, both inhaled and oral, remain the gold standard of asthma treatment. However, LABA (Long-Acting Beta Agonists) and combination drug types, that include LABA, are increasingly over-evaluated by the FDA for their safety. Currently, FDA labels LABA-containing medications as contraindicated without simultaneous use of a corticosteroids. Corticosteroid drugs, especially oral, can cause irreversible immune system damage with prolonged use.
The other drug group, sometimes referred to as add-ons, include allergy-targeting medications such as leukotriene and Immunoglobulin E (IgE) inhibitors. They are prescribed in hopes that by keeping allergy symptoms at bay, the medications would prevent disease flare-ups in patients with allergy-induced, persistent asthma. Both types of medications should be used continuously; they do not work for everyone and can be very costly (IgE inhibitor injections run up to $30,000 per year).
A very recent development is Bronchial Thermoplasty, which is a procedure rather than drug, and is approved by the FDA for severe asthmatics whose medications aren’t providing enough relief. Bronchial Thermoplasty is a drastic, highly-invasive treatment; its long-term safety has not been established. Because of the bronchoscopy involved in treatment, side effects might include asthma attacks, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, partially collapsed lungs, coughing up blood, anxiety, headaches, and nausea.
Meanwhile, thousands of asthmatics worldwide have been helped with a highly effective drug free technique called the Buteyko Method. While the Bronchial Thermoplasty trial showed a 32% reduction in asthma attacks, an 84% reduction in emergency room visits, a 73% reduction in hospitalizations, the Butyeko trials on average showed a 75% reduction in asthma symptoms, a 90% decrease in reliever-use, and a 49% decrease in preventer medications (and therefore no need for emergency room visits or hospitalizations). And the Buteyko Therapy is virtually a no-cost, no side effects technique.
If you are living with asthma and willing to invest a little time and discipline into the Buteyko Method, you won’t be disappointed. According to people who have used the Butyeko Technique, the results include the following:
• effective asthma control
• better quality of life
• uninterrupted sleep
• higher energy level
• improved physical performance
• improved mental and emotional health
• a significantly shortened medication list
Many parents would appreciate a peace of mind they could have when their asthmatic child is out of their supervision. It is as good as it gets with natural asthma control.
The Buteyko Breathing Method has been approved as a treatment for asthma by the British Thoracic Society & Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. It has been mentioned as an effective alternative asthma treatment by the Mayo Clinic. Finally, last year the US Department of Health and Human Services accepted The Buteyko breathing Technique for further review as part of the project, which assesses the effectiveness of most clinically and cost effective means of treating a targeted list of chronic health conditions.
Unlike other breathing techniques, the Buteyko Method is not just a series of breathing exercises, but a comprehensive wellness program aimed at correcting dysfunctional breathing and encouraging a healthier lifestyle through stress reduction, nutrition, and exercise.
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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.
