Breathing Exercises for Asthma

Despite the advances in pharmacological therapy for asthma, there has been an increasing
worldwide interest in alternative therapies for asthma. Treatments and therapies such as
yoga, acupuncture, homeopathy, hypnosis and Buteyko and other breathing techniques have been
used as complementary therapies however little evidence exists behind such practices.

Data from systemic reviews and randomized control trials provide evidence of benefit
although additional confirmation is still needed. Among the most common techniques are the
Buteyko breathing exercises that aim to reduce minute ventilation by instruct asthmatics
patients to breathe shallowly and slowly through the nose. The second common technique is
the Pranayama, or yoga breathing exercises which emphasizes deep respirations and exhalation
prolongation.

Our goal is to assess the effectiveness of breathing exercises as a complementary therapy
for asthma.