Who does Buteyko help?
The Buteyko Institute method is suitable for children from 3 years of age and adults of any age. It is effective for people with all types and degrees of severity of asthma.
The Buteyko Institute Method is also applicable for the following: (click for Fact Sheet):
If you have a condition not listed which you suspect may be influenced by your breathing pattern please contact a Buteyko practitioner for consultation.
Children and Buteyko
Having a child with asthma, it is easy to allow your concerns to interfere with your everyday life. The conventional approach is to take daily medication and avoid triggers, where possible. This dependence can be inconvenient at best, downright frightening at worst. Leaving your child in the care of others can be distressing for everyone - what if they have an attack without you around, will they or those around them know what to do.
As a parent, you cannot be with your child every minute of the day. The increased competence and confidence gained by the child and parent in the ability to manage their asthma is one of the most valued outcomes of a Buteyko course. Your child will gain the skills and confidence to overcome symptoms if they occur. This eliminates the fear factor which tends to aggravate the condition.
With increased control and early intervention, symptoms are substantially reduced and in the majority of cases reliever medication is no longer required.1 Most children will also, in time, be able to reduce or eliminate steroid medications altogether.2
Children experience asthma in many different ways. Some will have only mild wheezing and tightness when they have a cold, others will have been hospitalised repeatedly and have been prescribed nearly every asthma medication available.
No matter what the past medical history, all children with breathing disorders will benefit from learning Buteyko.
1 Clients are instructed to carry their reliever medication at all times
2 Reduction of preventer medication is undertaken in consultation with your medical practitioner.
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Asthma
Asthma is a disorder characterised by breathing difficulty due to symptoms of bronchospasm (tightness), inflammation of the airways and increased mucous production. It can be diagnosed at any age and may range from mild to life threatening.
Diagnosis of asthma is made from medical and symptom histories and, possibly, pulmonary lung function tests: assessing resistance to airflow through the airways, and whether improvement was noted on taking short acting reliever medication (i.e. Ventolin). The most common outcome of a diagnosis of asthma is the prescription of asthma reliever and preventative medications.
The Buteyko breath correction course is an educational program that teaches reduction of acute and chronic hyperventilation (overbreathing) via breathing exercises and lifestyle changes. The principle aim is the normalisation of the breathing pattern. This results in significantly less asthma symptoms, with the majority of those that do occur being overcome by application of the breathing exercises. Outcomes should not be regarded as a ‘cure’ but rather as effective management.
One of the important outcomes of lessening reliever medication required is the reversal of tolerance to relievers, which frequently occurs with regular use. Short acting relievers, such as Ventolin, regain their effectiveness and, once again, become valuable emergency medications.
Buteyko breath correction practitioners follow international ‘best practice’ guidelines for asthma medication instructing clients to use reliever medication as needed and preventer medication as prescribed by their doctor.
Ideally
participation in a Buteyko course should be discussed
with your GP and/or respiratory specialist. Doctors, specialists
and allied health professionals are welcome to contact
Buteyko Breath Correction for further information. Whilst
referrals are not essential, where they are provided your
referring doctor will be kept informed of your progress.
I
have found Glenn extremely consultative about my patients,
completely professional in his approach, and especially
co-operative about my recommendations for medication.
At no time has he suggested alteration to inhaler programmes
without full consultation and I have been impressed to
find that his suggestions have invariably been wise treatment
changes. I therefore have complete confidence in referring
my patients to him for Buteyko teaching and enjoy their
renewed enthusiasm for life and control of their asthma.
Graeme F Washer
Mb, ChB, FRACS
Breathlessness
Breathlessness, or shortness of breath, is a common symptom experienced by many people. Our general assumption is that we must not be breathing deeply enough; that somehow the tightness around our chest is restricting our breathing and making it too shallow…making us breathless.
Breathlessness is principally an outcome of poor oxygen exchange. Most people, understandably, assume that they require a greater volume of air to reach the lungs to bring more oxygen in. Paradoxically, the greater volume of air that is pushed in and out of the lungs the less oxygen will be available for use by our tissue cells.
To understand this more clearly: if deep breathing enabled greater oxygen availability then blowing up balloons or opening your mouth and breathing quickly and as deeply as possible would leave you feeling totally refreshed. But these activities can quickly make us breathless, light headed and dizzy. Thus over breathing reduces the supply of oxygenated blood to the brain and if we were to continue, despite the warning signals, we may very well faint.
Paradoxically deep breathing does not deliver greater amounts of oxygen to our bodies, on the contrary, it delivers less. Buteyko overcomes symptoms of breathlessness by normalising the volume of air breathed, thereby maximising oxygen exchange.
The more we breathe the less oxygen reaches our cells
We breathe in air from the atmosphere around us, the oxygen from the air crosses from our lungs into the smallest blood vessels (capillaries) where the oxygen molecules attach to the haemoglobin molecules within red blood cells. Each haemoglobin molecule can accommodate up to four oxygen molecules and this is how oxygen is transported in the blood. In order for oxygen to be utilised by the body for cellular respiration, it must first be released by the haemoglobin molecules. In an environment of low arterial carbon dioxide oxygen molecules bind more tightly to the haemoglobin molecules and are therefore not available to cell tissues of the body. This is known as the Bohr Effect and expressed by the Oxygen Dissociation Curve. A low carbon dioxide environment is created when we hyperventilate or over-breathe. So, the more we breathe the tighter the oxygen will bind to the haemoglobin in our red blood cells.
"I conceived the idea of diminishing the depth of respiration, i.e. it's normalisation."
Professor KP Buteyko
Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea is a condition characterised by ‘stopping breathing’ for more than 10 seconds at a time while asleep. There are two types of sleep apnoea; obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and the less common central sleep apnoea (CSA). Diagnosis is confirmed by a polysomnograph or ‘sleep study’.
Typically persons with sleep apnoea will display:
- Apnoeas of between 10 sec and 2 minutes or more
- Snoring (though not always with CNS)
- Restlessness, excessive movement/ kicking while asleep
- Mouth breathing
- Dry mouth/throat on waking
- Thirst overnight and/or on waking
- Waking unrefreshed and daytime tiredness/ foggy thinking
- Tendency to fall asleep in meetings and in front of the TV
- Breathlessness on exercise
Normal sleep occurs in five stages: Stages 1,2,3,4, & REM (rapid eye movement).
Stages 3 & 4 are the most restful and deepest sleep but when a person is over breathing, or hyperventilating, they are prevented from easily reaching these stages and primarily remain in the light and easily disturbed sleep of stages 1 & 2. A person with sleep apnoea has the added difficulty of ‘arousal’ occurring each time an apnoea finishes with a gasping breath dragging the person near to consciousness though often they remain asleep. This explains why it often takes a long time for a person to accept that they have a problem needing investigating, much to the frustration of others!
The
Buteyko Institute Method of breathing retraining (BIM)
successfully reduces overbreathing (hyperventilation)
and normal sleep patterns return. Physiologically, hyperventilation
lowers the arterial and alveolar carbon dioxide (CO2)
to the point where the breathing reflex is depressed -interpreted
as an apnoea or hypopnoea to an observer. During cessation
of breathing the CO2 slowly accumulates until it triggers
the body to take the next breath. By correcting the breathing
pattern the body no longer needs to suppress the breathing
reflex as the CO2 level is maintained within normal limits.
Click
here to read an interesting article on sleep apnoea
and dysfunctional breathing by Sydney based respiratory
physiologist Roger Price.
Blocked nose
Chronically blocked noses are common in those attending Buteyko breath correction courses. One of the first aims of the program is to re-establish comfortable nasal breathing. Nearly all participants achieve this within the first week.
The nose has a number of very important roles. It prepares the air for the lungs in ways that breathing through the mouth cannot. Functions of the nose include filtering, warming and humidifying the air we breathe in order that by the time the air reaches the lungs it is clean, at body temperature and has sufficient water vapour in it to avoid drying out of the airways.
Mouth breathing draws dirty, cold, dry, germ laden air directly into the lungs. The larger volumes of air inhaled through the mouth disrupt the normal gas balance within the body; unfiltered air carries with it airborne allergens and dust particles which irritate and inflame the airways; cold dry air dries out the mucosal tissue leading to inflammation, dehydration and greater volumes of thicker tackier mucous.
Perform the following exercise to unblock your nose:
After breathing normally (do not make any exaggerated breathing manoeuvre), breathe out and hold the breath for as long as is comfortable, and then gradually resume very gentle breathing. It may help to pinch your nose and nod your head a few times. In stubborn cases or when the blockage is due to a cold, you may have to repeat the exercise a few times.
This exercise allows carbon dioxide levels to accumulate relaxing the smooth muscle surrounding the nasal passages. It is only a quick fix and it will be essential to reduce your hyperventilation before you can achieve permanent freedom from blocked noses.
‘Shut your mouth and save your life’ George Catlin 1870
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is inflammation with or without infection affecting the sinus cavities. Pain, headache, swelling, discharge, excessive mucus and postnasal drip may all be present. Common treatments include steroid and non-steroid nasal sprays, antihistamines, antibiotics, inhalations, nasal washes etc.
Susceptible people often have multiple sensitivities to foods and chemicals and will also display disturbed sleep. Symptoms tend to become chronic and more frequent over time.
Over breathing, or hyperventilation, lowers the carbon dioxide level within the blood and the respiratory system including the nasal/sinus passages. A low carbon dioxide environment stimulates mast cells to release greater amounts of histamine, an inflammatory agent, in response to contact with allergens. In short, the body over-reacts and the nasal and sinus regions become swollen and inflamed. Secondary infections are common in the warm moist environment.
The Buteyko Institute Method of breathing retraining (BIM) reduces the acute and chronic hyperventilation leading to a normalising of the mast cell/histamine response to allergens. The nasal and sinus tissues become less inflamed and swollen allowing restoration of nasal breathing. Secondary infections reduce in frequency, and quality of sleep improves. The need for ongoing daily medication is rare.
Adenoids
If your child has been diagnosed with enlarged adenoids it is likely that surgical removal may have been advised by your paediatrician. Enlargement can be sufficient to cause a blockage of the nose making nasal breathing difficult or impossible. Chronic infection may also lead to ear problems including glue ear. These problems are seen by doctors as being indicative of dysfunctional adenoids with surgical removal being the best option for recovery.
There are potential side-effects associated with removal. Aside from the obvious stress of having your child undergo surgery, it is common for children to be left even more susceptible to respiratory infections following removal.
Surgery is not the only option
Buteyko offers a safe and effective alternative to adenoidectomy. It is widely accepted that children with enlarged adenoids tend to be habitual ‘mouth-breathers’. Buteyko works by correcting your child’s poor breathing habits, addressing the underlying cause of the adenoid enlargement. Buteyko exercises and games help to encourage nasal breathing until it becomes the norm.
Results are seen in the first week and in the majority of cases adenoids return to normal size, eliminating the need for surgery. The course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so shouldn’t you consider Buteyko before surgery?
Within days your child will be able to breathe through their nose. As correct nasal breathing returns the adenoids reduce to normal size and the need for surgery is eliminated.
Anxiety & Panic
When we become anxious, our palms may become sweaty, our muscles tense and our mind and emotions become singularly focussed on the anxiety-causing event. Another physiological change in our bodies at this time is an increase in the rate and depth of breathing. We enter what is termed the ‘Fight or Flight’ state. This is a normal response to stress.
In a person with a normal anxiety response once the anxiety-causing event has passed the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems return the body to normal physiological baselines.
If a chronic state of hyperventilation exists (that is, if we breathe more than physiologically required all or much of the time) then this will trigger changes in the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems producing a chronic state of anxiety. We may feel as though we are in a permanent state of ‘Fight or Flight’ and have a permanently elevated level of anxiety.
Hyperventilation and anxiety form a ‘vicious circle’, one leading to the other. The process may be ‘pushed’ or initiated from either end. Some will experience anxiety which then leads to hyperventilation, others will hyperventilate leading to feelings of rising anxiety and/or panic. One feeds the other in an increasing spiral.
The Buteyko Institute Method program acts like a circuit breaker by teaching people how to reduce acute anxiety producing hyperventilation thereby reducing the resultant anxiety and panic. It also teaches participants how to retrain their breathing back to a normal level with the result that they no longer have to live constantly in the ‘Fight or Flight’ state. Their body is enabled to return to normal after cessation of the anxiety-causing event.
Hayfever
Most of us are familiar with the standard treatments for hay fever, sinusitis and rhinitis; antihistamines and inhaled steroids. But how many are aware that Buteyko offers a simple and effective option to medication that is guaranteed to free those suffering from these symptoms?
Professor KP Buteyko established that over-breathing - hyperventilation causes the symptoms of hayfever by disrupting the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in our airways. When we over- breathe we also inhale excessive quantities of allergens like pollen, cat dander and house dust mite. These factors combine to trigger the inflammation and blocked or runny nose that we associate with our symptoms.
Right from the first session of Buteyko breathing exercises – blocked noses clear, and breathing becomes easier. The main component of a Buteyko course is easy to learn breathing exercises designed to slow the breathing rate back to normal parameters.
The exercises are taught over five consecutive 90 minute sessions. Most people are free of their symptoms and need for sinus and hay fever medication within the first week. The exercises only need to be practised for about six weeks to achieve permanent relief.
Sports Performance
In our highly competitive world sports performance is highly prized. For many it becomes the equivalent of their full time job and career. The primary goal of every athlete is to achieve his or her absolute potential. An important determinant of whether this will be possible is our breathing pattern.
A poor breathing pattern will: limit oxygen exchange; increase the production of lactic acid and subsequently leave the athlete with residual muscle soreness; increase dehydration; increase the occurrence of cramp; increase recovery time; elevate the heart rate; increase baseline anxiety; contribute to poor sleep patterns.
The aim of the Buteyko Institute Method program is to normalise the breathing pattern. When the body is working within its physiologically normal parameters it can work at its optimum.
Many athletes both in New Zealand and internationally have used Buteyko to improve their sporting performance. The New Zealand Herald reported on New Zealand Rowing Four Darnelle Timbs and her success with Buteyko on the 31st October 2005. Click here to read her testimonial.
Emphysema
A diagnosis of emphysema indicates that damage has occurred to the delicate tissues of the lung: the alveoli or air sacs. The once numerous small, elastic walled sacs have coalesced into larger floppier walled areas. A diminished surface area remains for the function of gas exchange.
The chief symptom of emphysema is breathlessness and fatigue on activity. The problem is one of inefficient oxygen exchange. Most assume that the lung damage is the main culprit yet it is possible to significantly improve the oxygen exchange despite the existing damage.
Oxygen crosses from the lung into the blood where it attaches to the red blood cell protein haemoglobin. It then travels to the capillaries where it is offloaded to the awaiting cells. The key to the oxygen leaving the red blood cell is the carbon dioxide level within the blood. In simple terms: the lower the level of carbon dioxide, the tighter the bond between the oxygen and the red blood cell, the less oxygen is available to the cells of the body. So paradoxically the more you breathe the less oxygen is available to the body because too much carbon dioxide is lost from the body during hyperventilation (over breathing). This is called the Bohr Effect and the Oxygen Dissociation Curve and is described in physiology textbooks for those who would like to investigate further.
This is often hard for a person with emphysema to understand because naturally we assume breathlessness to mean we are not breathing enough. Take a little time to observe your own breathing. Can you sit at this computer breathing comfortably through your nose? Can you walk across the room without huffing and puffing? Do your shoulders and upper chest rise with each breath? Now compare that with a healthy person. The volume of air that a person with emphysema breathes is markedly higher than a healthy person.
Now consider how you would feel after blowing up a balloon or two. We assume that deep breathing is good for us and will deliver more oxygen to our body, yet deeply breathing to blow up a balloon does not leave us feeling better but worse! We experience symptoms indicative of lack of oxygen such as dizziness, breathlessness, light-headedness etc. We have just blown off a large amount of carbon dioxide and now our oxygen is not releasing from our red blood cells. The more balloons we blow up the worse we will feel.
By learning how to lessen your hyperventilation (over breathing) by the Buteyko Institute Method of breathing retraining (BIM) you will maximise possible oxygen exchange thereby improving your ability to move around and stamina. It is often quite a surprise for a person with emphysema to discover that improvement is possible after having resigned themselves to slow irreversible deterioration.
Dental Disorders
Weston
Price, in Nutrition
& Physical Degeneration published in 1939,
first documented the relationship between chronic mouth
breathing and a range of dental disorders including: dental
decay, periodontal disease, malocclusion - teeth not fitting
together properly when the mouth is shut, anterior open
bite (prominent top teeth), temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ)
dysfunction and reduced dental arch space (narrow roof
of the mouth.) Narrowing of the upper palate increases
tooth crowding and the need for tooth extraction.
By
learning to correct breathing patterns with Buteyko, an
individual can prevent dental problems occurring and in
many cases they can begin to be reversed.
Mouth
breathing will cause all orthodontic treatments to relapse
Nicholas Anderson BDS, Alpers Dental Newmarket, Auckland
Bed Wetting
Bed-wetting affects as many as one in 10 six-year-olds. While the situation can resolve itself with time, living with the situation can be stressful for both parents and their children. Conventional solutions revolve around containing the problem, rather than looking to address the root cause. Some practitioners prescribe the drug Desmopressin to inhibit urine-production, others advise the use of simple alarm-systems. In the meantime, children are left anxious and frustrated at their inability to control the situation.
Professor Buteyko established a link between hyperventilation and bed wetting and research by a Sydney based Paediatrician reported in New Scientist in August 2003 concurs with his findings. Derek Mahoney, a paediatrician at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, found that 80% of children presenting with bedwetting at the Hospital were found to have dysfunctional breathing.
Dr Mahony's research showed that all these children had pronounced narrowing of the palate and believes this contributes to their breathing problems. Dr Mahoney has acheived dramatic results by fitting a brace to help widen the palate. A Swedish study found that 7 out of 10 bedwetting children improved within a month of using a similar device and a UK-based study found that all the children who used a brace stopped wetting the bed.
The
tongue functions as a natural brace when mouth breathing
is restored. Buteyko addresses the problem without need
for dental braces by teaching children simple exercises
that restore correct nasal breathing habits. Improvement
usually occurs within a few days. By the end of the course,
most children are breathing easy and can put their bedwetting
days behind them.
Other breathing related conditions including swollen adenoids, glue ear and disturbed sleep also resolve as breathing returns to normal parameters.
