Why do all of us breathe differently?
Does it really matter?
Breathing is a simple elemental automatic process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.
But still, all of us breathe differently!
Stress, anxiety, the environment, and pre-existing health conditions have a direct or indirect effect on our breathing habits.
It is a common belief that the more we breathe, the better the oxygen reaches our lungs.
Also, in unhealthy states like anxiety, stress, and various cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions, individuals tend to hyperventilate.
Whereas, on the other hand, the breathing of a healthy individual is regular, effortless, and quiet breathing.
A process as naive as breathing through the nose, driven through the diaphragm, and with a normal respiratory rate of 16 to 18 breaths per minute generates a greater volume.
Persistent over breathing (Hyperventilation) is a generally unrecognized process of many health conditions, where patients tend to breathe heavily, irregularly completely unaware of the gaseous imbalance in the lung.
Buteyko's Theory was developed and based on this “Hyperventilation Syndrome”.
The Russian Physiologists Verigo & Boher in 1904 discovered that without Carbon dioxide, Oxygen cannot effectively bind itself to Haemoglobin in blood.
The reduction of carbon dioxide in airways and arterial blood shifts the blood pH to alkalosis.
Haemoglobin, which also binds to oxygen, reduces its release to tissues, creating a state of vasoconstriction and hypoxia.
A decrease in levels of carbon dioxide causes constriction of airways and blood vessels, hypo capnea forms the basis of many medical conditions like hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive airway disease, anxiety, and many more.
The Buteyko method was hence, developed to ‘retrain breathing’ by Russian Physician & Researcher Konstantin Pavlovian Buteyko.
He developed a program designed to normalize breathing volume; using slow breathing & breath holds (control pause) following an exhalation.
The objective is to take less air into the lungs in order to increase the blood flow & oxygen delivery to the tissues.
He believed that a small optimal increase in carbon dioxide levels could be beneficial to the body.
Benefits of the Rise in Carbon dioxide:
- Relaxation of the Central Nervous System i.e., Activation of the Parasympathetic Nervous System
- Increasing Oxygenation
- Increased production of Nitric Oxide (vasodilator)
- Relaxation of bronchi and bronchioles
- Improves ventilation–perfusion.
Relaxation, Nasal Slow Relaxed Breathing, and control of Pause is the cornerstone of the Buteyko Method.
A study by A. J. Opat et al. highlighted the effectiveness of the Buteyko Technique as a complementary medicine in the treatment of asthma.
The frequency of asthma exacerbations in a year showed a gradual reduction, the use of rescue inhalers was reduced, the dose of steroids was halved, and hospital admissions were markedly reduced.
Various researchers have studied the effects of the Buteyko Method and have found that the increase in breathing volume is helpful in conditions with breathing dysfunction, the major baseline problem of many disorders like Anxiety, Hypertension, Sleep Apnea, Asthma, and chronic obstructive airway disease.
Thus, The Buteyko Method is an effective set of Breathing exercises, easily taught and performed by children and adults, when performed helps in retraining our breathing and breathing effectively.
A prudent watch on our breathing can help positively influence our physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being–that can truly lay be called The Power of Breathing Right!
References:
- J. Opat et al: A clinical trial of Buteyko breathing technique in asthma, as taught by a video. Journal of Asthma,37,7,2000.
- Rachna A., Shruti Dhokpatil, et al Effect of Buteyko Breathing Technique on Haemodynamic Parameters and functional capacity in Primary Hypertension. Indian Journal of Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy 2022;16(3):73-80
- Buteyko Clinic