Asthma
Understanding Asthma: More Than Just an Attack
Asthma doesn’t discriminate. It affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles. The modern world—with its changing environments, diets, and increased exposure to infections—has only intensified this chronic condition.
A Growing Global Epidemic
A recent New Zealand study found that up to one-third of children whose asthma symptoms disappeared by age 18 had symptoms return by age 26. This shows that asthma can be “grown out of” only to resurface later in life—often unpredictably.
Globally, asthma cases have doubled in the last 30 years. In the Southern Hemisphere, one in four children are affected. The economic burden is staggering, with asthma costing national health systems hundreds of millions annually. The World Health Organization has rightly labeled asthma an epidemic with severe consequences.
What Is Asthma, Really?
The word asthma is derived from the Greek aazein, meaning "to breathe with an open mouth"—literally, to pant. This offers a vital clue into one of asthma’s key mechanisms: over-breathing.
During an asthma attack, many experience the sensation of not getting enough air. Ironically, the more they try to breathe, the worse the attack becomes.
So what’s really happening?
The Role of Mast Cells in Asthma
To understand asthma, we must understand mast cells—a type of white blood cell found in connective tissue. These cells are master regulators of the immune and neuroimmune systems and play a key role in inflammation, wound healing, and immune tolerance.
In asthma, mast cells can become overactive, releasing substances like histamine that cause:
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Airway inflammation
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Mucus production
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Muscle constriction
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Increased airway sensitivity
While mast cell numbers may not differ between asthmatics and non-asthmatics, they are found in three critical areas in asthma sufferers:
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Airway smooth muscle (ASM)
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Airway mucous glands
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Bronchial epithelium
What Triggers an Asthma Attack?
While allergens are well-known triggers, many other factors can provoke an attack:
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Exercise
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Illness
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Weather or barometric pressure changes
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Stress or emotional responses
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Household chemicals and sprays
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Seasonal changes
Triggers vary from person to person—and even day to day.
The Hyperventilation Link
Most conventional treatments focus on tight airways during an asthma attack. But few address what happens before the attack begins.
This is breathing retraining comes in.
This programme focuses on correcting dysfunctional breathing patterns, specifically chronic hyperventilation, which can:
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Reduce CO₂ levels
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Thicken mucus
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Trigger muscle constriction
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Disrupt oxygen delivery
Carbon Dioxide: The Unsung Hero
CO₂ is more than a waste gas—it’s essential for:
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Blood pH balance
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Regulating the nervous system
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Supporting oxygen delivery to tissues
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Maintaining body temperature
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Controlling breathing reflexes
When CO₂ levels drop too low (as happens with over-breathing), it can set off a cascade of symptoms, worsening asthma and causing further oxygen starvation at the tissue level—a paradox explained by the Bohr Effect.
The Bohr Effect and Oxygen Starvation
The Bohr Effect shows that oxygen is only released from haemoglobin in the presence of CO₂. So, when CO₂ drops, less oxygen is delivered—even if you're breathing more.
This explains why deep, heavy breathing during an attack can make you feel worse, not better. If this cycle continues, it can lead to respiratory alkalosis, airway collapse, and a dangerous state called status asthmaticus.
Scientific Support for Buteyko
A study published in the European Respiratory Journal (2015) tracked 18 asthma patients over 6 months using Buteyko retraining. Key findings:
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Increased CO₂ levels (PETCO₂)
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Reduced oxygen oversaturation (PETO₂)
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Improved breath-hold time
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Improved Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores
These results show that Buteyko can normalise breathing, improve CO₂ balance, and reduce asthma symptoms—without invasive treatments.
A Natural, Non-Invasive Approach?
The Buteyko Method works by restoring functional breathing patterns, reducing the tendency to over-breathe. Many asthmatics breathe 2–3 times more air per minute than necessary—up to 14 litres compared to a normal 4–6 litres—and often through the mouth rather than the nose.
By correcting this pattern, Buteyko:
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Helps normalise CO₂ levels
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Reduces airway reactivity
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Minimises mucus overproduction
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Can reduce or eliminate the need for medication (under supervision)
⚠️ Note: Buteyko practitioners do not advise altering medication. Changes should always be discussed with your healthcare provider.
The Bottom Line
Asthma is more than an immune or respiratory condition—it's often a breathing pattern disorder. Addressing the root cause through breath retraining may offer lasting relief, improved quality of life, and fewer flare-ups.
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