Nexus - 1301 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Most people with asthma attempt to eliminate their symptoms by avoiding trigger situations or by taking medication. Few would think that they are breathing too much air, because a primary symptom is shortness of breath, and anything abnormal in the breathing pattern is generally considered a result of asthma rather than a cause. There is also a Western philosophy that deep breathing is good for you. Both of these factors mean that hyperventilation is not recognised or considered, let alone addressed. Most people with asthma attempt to eliminate their symptoms more carbon dioxide is gradually retained and the breathing by avoiding trigger situations or by taking medication. Few pattern drops back towards normal. This opens up the airways would think that they are breathing too much air, because a and releases sufficient oxygen to tissues so that the person's primary symptom is shortness of breath, and anything abnormal in asthma symptoms reduce significantly. the breathing pattern is generally considered a result of asthma When overbreathing occurs, the loss of carbon dioxide is first rather than a cause. There is also a Western philosophy that deep noted in the lungs, and if the person has the asthmatic-type's lungs breathing is good for you. Both of these factors mean that then the loss is notably marked. However, if the overbreathing hyperventilation is not recognised or considered, let alone can be stopped at this point, then the airways will readily open up addressed. again. If the person does not stop the overbreathing and the car- bon dioxide pressure in the blood drops further, then the problem Carbon Dioxide Balance will be harder to solve because, as well as smooth muscle spasm, Buteyko's theory works around the premise that the asthmatic the airway inflammation and mucus production go into overdrive. habitually breathes with more force or more rapidly than is neces- More and more of the lungs become plugged with mucus and sary almost all the time. This theory is sup- debris until gas exchange becomes severely ported by research where asthmatics were affected. reported breathing 10-15 litres of air each It is well documented that, during an minute when they had no symptoms, instead asthma attack, carbon dioxide pressure in the of the normal 4-6 litres.” ” The carbon blood is low, right up until the attack dioxide pressure in their blood confirms this Because this trial of becomes very severe, with lung function test because it is commonly less than the normal 80,81 40 mm Hg until the person has severe airway results less than 20 per cent of the norm. However, carbon dioxide pressure will rise Buteyko had such obstruction, when it can rise rapidly, causing amazing results, it is npily once the airways are plugged, and another problem.”** . inding carbon dioxide pressure normal or When a person breathes more air than they astounding that high during an asthma attack indicates that need to and there is net a huge problem wih asthma researchers the attack is dangerous. Buteyko is nova the gas exchange in the lungs, then carbon suitable treatment at this time; instead, dioxide pressure in the lungs and blood- have not fallen over immediate medication attention is required. stream drops, causing a major problem for each other to do more the body. Buteyko theory says that air- . way narrowing is a simple, if rather trials on the Buteyko method. extreme, way of avoiding the loss of too much carbon dioxide. One of the most vital roles of carbon dioxide is ensuring the release of oxy- gen to tissue cells. When carbon diox- ide pressure is low, more oxygen is retained by haemoglobin and less is released to tissues to provide fuel for the body. This was first discovered by Danish scientist Christian Bohr approx- imately 100 years ago, and is called the "Bohr effect".” Low pressure of carbon dioxide also The Proof of Buteyko's Efficacy According to trials of the Buteyko method that have been conducted and published so far, the technique undoubtedly reduces symptoms because a minimum reduction of 85 per cent in bronchodilator medication use and 50 per cent in steroid use has been reported.“ Even when a video was trialled with minimal intervention by a trained practitioner, the reduction in bronchodilator use was still 60 per cent. Hundreds of stories similar to Robert Stark's experience contributed to a two- In fact, the opposite is true. causes a multitude of other problems and reactions:”.*” year media campaign in Australia, finally resulting in the « smooth muscle throughout the body spasms; Australian Association of Asthma Foundations' funding of a * extra histamine is produced; Buteyko trial in Brisbane in 1994-95. Six weeks into that trial, « the airways narrow; the Buteyko participants had reduced their bronchodilator medica- ¢ the heart beats faster; tion by 90 per cent. The research doctor, Simon Bowler, said: the nervous system becomes agitated; "We were surprised at the results, as we didn't expect any signifi- * a condition known as respiratory alkalosis develops. cant changes."** The primary stimulation for breathing is to maintain a predeter- Ordinarily, an almost complete cessation in bronchodilator mined pressure of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, and breath- medication use is usually only possible with a substantial increase ing is adjusted to keep the level constant. Carbon dioxide is man- in steroid preventers, yet these were also reduced by 49 per cent a ufactured within the tissue cells, and when the cells are working few weeks later.*’ The doctors had no obvious explanations for hard they produce extra carbon dioxide. This is why during exer- these improvements or the 71 per cent reduction in symptoms and cise the breathing pattern increases to get rid of the excess, and significant improvement in quality of life, except that they might during sleep it slows down. However, the respiratory centre in have been due to the number of phone calls that the Buteyko prac- the brain is adaptable to new pressures of carbon dioxide, and a titioner made to the participants. prolonged drop in this pressure will cause the brain to accept the Asthma costs so much in both money and suffering, and yet a new and lower pressure as normal. It now stimulates the breath- vast amount of research is conducted into the problem every year. ing pattern to maintain the new pressure. The good news is that Because this trial of Buteyko had such amazing results, it is the opposite is also true. astounding that asthma researchers have not fallen over each other According to Russell Stark, by following the Buteyko program, to do more trials on the Buteyko method. In fact, the opposite is Buteyko had such amazing results, it is astounding that a ane ee tan et method. In fact, the opposite is true. NEXUS + 37 Because this trial of asthma researchers have not fallen over each other to do more trials on the Buteyko DECEMBER 2005 — JANUARY 2006 www.nexusmagazine.com