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shallow breathing—a conclusion reached after 10 years of systems in the body—and it is these systems that run our energy research and measurement. We soon realise this when we sit in a and vitality. sauna: sweating may detoxify the body, but it also creates extra While air is held in the lungs, the molecules it contains pass work, causing hyperventilation. When we move from a cooler through the walls of the alveoli and into the blood, to be carried climate to a hot one, a similar reaction can occur. around the system to nourish the body tissues. Oxygen is carried 7. Bronchodilators. These are standard medication for asth- in the blood by means of a haemoglobin (Hb) molecule (which is matics. Bronchodilators give quick relief at first, but Professor part of a red cell). When the carbon dioxide level is low due to Buteyko argues that they in fact cause further over-breathing over-breathing, the oxygen is held tighter than normal to the Hb because they are designed to open the air passages and keep them _— molecule, due to a chemical bond, and cannot readily separate open maximally for 4 to 12 hours, allowing the sufferer to contin- _ itself from the haemoglobin. Not enough oxygen is getting into ue what he or she thinks of as "normal" breathing. Based on the tissues, so they become starved of oxygen. This oxygen star- Professor Buteyko's research, a person who suffers from asthma is vation of the tissues is called hypoxia. an over-breather, so after 2 to 12 hours the low carbon dioxide The tissues of the human body include muscles, of which there level means that their airways will go into spasm again, and the are three types: bronchodilator will be needed once more. This is a vicious cir- * Striated muscle, e.g., the biceps and triceps muscles; cle. ¢ Smooth muscle, found around bronchi and bronchioles or air 8. Excessive sexual activity. The hyperventilation in sexual tubes, around blood vessels, arteries and veins, and as part of the activity is obvious—and normal. wall of the intestines. You can It is only when this activity guess that smooth muscle is of becomes excessive because of a From th importance in asthma. sex addiction that hyperventila- tion becomes a problem, because it lowers the level of carbon dioxide in the lungs. 9. Smoking and pollution. When we walk into a smoke- filled room we may cough; this is because we are entering a situ- ation that is allergic and toxic. We also get the signal, "not ¢ Cardiac muscle, i.e., spe- cialised muscle cells, each cell able to contract by itself. As stated before, tissues starved of oxygen cannot be healthy—they become irritable; and the way smooth muscle reacts in distress is to contract or spasm. Thus, we start to understand that if carbon diox- Air Sacs Red Blood Cell enough air", so we over-breathe. Capillary Haemoglobin To the Body ide is not at its proper or normal Some people, asthmatics includ- Wall Molecule level (6.5%) in the air sacs and ed, react more sensitively to falls too low through over- such situations than others and This is a schematic diagram of what happens when | breathing, the oxygen becomes have the same reaction to pollu- | oxygen molecules pass from an air sac in the lungs, | more bound to the haemoglobin tion: over-breathing. through the wall of a capillary, and into the blood. The | molecule and is less able to sep- 10. Alcohol and recreational | oxygen molecules are absorbed into the red blood cells | arate and feed the tissues. drugs. These put a stress on the | (left) and, when the carbon dioxide level is high enough in Now, children in the Western body due to their toxicity and the blood, they are better released from the red-cell world are generally taught that overstimulation, and Professor haemoglobin, through the capillary wall and into the the deeper they breathe, the Buteyko's studies give evidence | tissues of the body (right). If the carbon dioxide level is | more oxygen they get "inside". that they lead to over-breathing. not high enough, the oxygen molecule "sticks" to the Most adults believe this, as well haemoglobin molecule (centre) and is trapped in the red | as in the efficacy of all sorts of THE PHYSIOLOGY OF cell, and less oxygen is released to feed the tissues. "deep breathing" exercises. It is BREATHING true that we take in more oxygen We all know that breathing plays a vital role in the human when we breathe deeply, but how much oxygen is then available organism. Nutrition is of major importance to us, yet we can sur- from the blood to the tissues? This availability is governed by vive without food for weeks and without water for days. But if | something known as the Verigo-Bohr effect, where lowered levels the average individual is without air for three to five minutes, he of CO: strengthen the bond between haemoglobin and oxygen, or she cannot survive. We normally breathe 20,000 to 30,000 thus lowering the oxygenation of the tissues. The stated purpose times every 24 hours. of the Buteyko method is to reverse the Verigo-Bohr effect. The optimal level of carbon dioxide (CO:) in the alveoli, or To summarise, oxygen enters the lungs, goes into the blood and small air sacs in the lungs, is around 6.5%. If for any reason is trapped by the haemoglobin molecule. How easily it is released (such as over-breathing) it falls below this, there is a gradual alka- to feed the body cells depends on the level of carbon dioxide. The line reaction, called respiratory alkalosis, in the lungs. At the oxygen is properly released when carbon dioxide is at a high level extreme, if the carbon dioxide level falls to below 3%, shifting the in the lungs. If it is low, the tissues suffer oxygen starvation. pH (the acidity level) to 8 (more alkaline), the organism dies. Oxygen starvation affects all the vital organs, and it has a particu- When the carbon dioxide level is lowered, the gradual alkaline lar effect in one of them, the brain: it excites the breathing centre reaction in the lungs carries through to the blood, and total blood located there, setting off a state of breathing stimulation. This CO: will also be low. The kidneys further try to "buffer" or cor- increases the breathing even further, creating a "shortness of rect this imbalance. This partially makes up for the CO deficien- breath" sensation in the already over-breathing person, which fur- cy, but it sets up a course of events which changes for the worse ther deepens the breath. So then there is a further progressive the rate and efficiency of activity of all the vitamin and enzyme _ decrease (breathing off) of carbon dioxide from the lungs. MUCUS UUUUE MLULCL ULE WOU THE PHYSIOLOGY OF cell, and less oxygen is releas BREATHING We all know that breathing plays a vital role in the human organism. Nutrition is of major importance to us, yet we can sur- vive without food for weeks and without water for days. But if the average individual is without air for three to five minutes, he or she cannot survive. We normally breathe 20,000 to 30,000 times every 24 hours. The optimal level of carbon dioxide (CO:) in the alveoli, or small air sacs in the lungs, is around 6.5%. If for any reason (such as over-breathing) it falls below this, there is a gradual alka- line reaction, called respiratory alkalosis, in the lungs. At the extreme, if the carbon dioxide level falls to below 3%, shifting the pH (the acidity level) to 8 (more alkaline), the organism dies. When the carbon dioxide level is lowered, the gradual alkaline reaction in the lungs carries through to the blood, and total blood CO: will also be low. The kidneys further try to "buffer" or cor- rect this imbalance. This partially makes up for the CO deficien- cy, but it sets up a course of events which changes for the worse the rate and efficiency of activity of all the vitamin and enzyme 38 + NEXUS AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1999