Asthma: Including Respiratory Exercises in Treatment Plans
Asthma is a lifelong disease related to the lung organ. It causes swelling and weakening of the airways. The disease can lead to breathing difficulties in individuals at times. There are also instances when symptoms of asthma reach a very severe stage, leading to an asthma attack.
People with this condition have to be a little attentive while participating in physical activities like sports and exercises. However, they can surely participate in certain stretching and breathing exercises without the need for inhalers. Here’s a look at five effective breathing exercises for asthma relief that you can incorporate into your daily routine.
How can breathing exercises help asthma?
Breathing exercise is a term given to those types of exercises or yogas that are helpful in improving the overall functioning of the lung organ. They are also capable of strengthening our respiratory system, improving the flexibility of our rib cage, and enhancing our breathing patterns. It does not require a lot of energy to perform such exercises. You can perform them in any calm and quiet place to get benefits for all types of asthma.
1. Pursed-Lip Breathing
This breathing exercise slows down the breath and extends the exhale to help you control the pace of your breathing. It also prevents air from getting trapped in your lungs and makes it easier to breathe. It helps to calm shortness of breath.
How to Do It:
- Start by finding a place in your home to sit or stand comfortably.
- After that, breathe through your nose, counting to two.
- Purse your lips (as if you’re about to blow out candles) and exhale slowly and slowly through your lips, counting to four.
- Repeat for several breaths until you feel your breathing slow.
2. Diaphragmatic (Belly) Breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing is about breathing deeply from the diaphragm rather than the chest. This helps strengthen the diaphragm muscle, which plays a significant role in efficient breathing. It is one of the best breathing exercises that come forward as an asthma natural treatment.
How to Do It:
- Place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly.
- Inhale deeply through your nose so that your belly rises (not your chest).
- Slowly breathe out of the mouth. Let the belly sag.
- Do this for about 5–15 minutes every day.
3. The Buteyko Breathing Method
This breathing technique is useful for enhancing peak expiratory flow rate. The Buteyko Method involves shallow nasal breathing, and it helps reduce breathlessness. It helps reset your breathing pattern and, therefore, improves oxygen flow and reduces the symptoms of asthma.
How to Do It:
- Sit comfortably, relax, and breathe gently through your nose.
- Focus on taking shallow, small breaths keeping your mouth closed. Try to breathe as gently and slowly as possible without causing discomfort.
- Continue for a few minutes, focusing on maintaining a calm, steady breathing pace.
4. Box Breathing (Square Breathing)
Box breathing is commonly used for stress management, but it’s also helpful for asthma. This exercise helps you to control each of the phases of the breath, and when you do so, you breathe slowly and rhythmically, which can help decrease your asthma-related anxiety.
How to Do It:
- Slowly and slowly inhale through your nose for a count of 5
- For an equal amount of time, hold your breath
- Now, exhale the air from your mouth for a count of 5
- Hold again for four counts.
- Repeat the sequence for 3-5 minutes.
5. The Papworth Method
The Papworth Method combines diaphragmatic breathing with nose breathing and rhythmic breathing exercises to reduce asthma symptoms and ease anxiety. Dr. Thomas G. developed it in early 1960s.
How to Do It:
- Sit in a comfortable position, focusing on breathing through your nose.
- Breathe deeply and slowly from your abdomen (not your chest).
- Try to establish a gentle rhythm with each breath, focusing on a relaxed pace.
- Practice for a few minutes each day to get used to the technique.
So, these were the top 5 breathing exercises for asthma patients. Learning these exercises and adding them to your daily routine may help you reduce the frequency of your asthma medications. One more important thing to note down over here is to consult your doctor before beginning these exercises. They will guide you better.
Managing Asthma with Homeopathy
Breathing exercises can definitely complement the medical treatment for asthma, but they are not enough alone. Asthma is a serious condition and requires proper consultations from the doctors. A doctor can come up to you with multiple ways to treat the condition, including inhalers, steroids, remedies, lifestyle changes, etc. Let us have a look at one of the most effective methodologies recommended by experts to achieve long-lasting relief from the condition.
Why is homeopathy widely preferred for respiratory illnesses?
Homeopathy is one of the most reliable medical systems for curing a number of respiratory illnesses. The main focus of the asthma homeopathic treatment plan is to work on the causative factors behind the occurrence of the condition in the first place, along with treating the symptoms.
However, before beginning the treatment procedures, homeopathic specialists fully analyse each and every patient individually. They gain information about the symptoms, medical history, and other such factors. As asthma affects every individual differently, some people may be allergic to pet danders, and for others, it could not be an irritating factor.
That is why an individual examination helps doctors understand patients’ conditions in a more comprehensive manner. After that, they prescribe the most suitable medicines according to patients’ needs. For these reasons, homeopathic medicine for asthma offers one of the most efficacious treatments for respiratory diseases, including asthma.
Bharat Homeopathy – A reliable homeopathic clinic
Bharat Homeopathy is known to be India’s leading homeopathic centre for treating various ailments, including asthma. They provide a complete cure for asthma with their customised homeopathic remedies for asthma attack in accordance with the patient’s condition. These medications are made up of natural substances like plants and minerals that also help in minimising the need for inhalers. At Bharat Homeopathy, we deeply focus on helping asthma patients who have trusted our treatment.
