Yoga for Asthma and COPD

The number of people with asthma continues to grow.

One in 12 people (about 25 million, or 8% of the U.S. population)
had asthma in 2009, compared with 1 in 14 (about 20 million, or 7%) in
2001.
About 1 in 10 children (10%) had asthma and 1 in 12 adults (8%)
had asthma in 2009.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including
emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory (non-reversible) asthma, and
some forms of bronchiectasis. This disease is characterized by increasing
breathlessness.
COPD affects an estimated 30 million individuals in the U.S., and over half
of them have symptoms of COPD and do not know it.
Third leading cause of DEATH after cancer and heart disease

ASTHMA SLIDE
Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow, swell, and produce
extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing,
wheezing and shortness of breath.
Causes
The exact cause of asthma is unknown.
There are TRIGGERS

Exercise-induced asthma, which may be worse when the air is cold and
dry
Occupational asthma, triggered by workplace irritants such as chemical
fumes, gases or dust
Allergy-induced asthma, triggered by airborne substances, such as
pollen, mold spores, pet dander

Asthma signs and symptoms include:

Shortness of breath
Chest tightness or pain
Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling (wheezing is a common
sign of asthma in children)
Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus,
such as a cold or the flu
Asthma is a form of Lung hyperinflation
trapped air in the lungs
increased residual volume
decreased functional capacity
Loss of lung elasticity
This creates a progressive loss of diaphragm function

AND Impaired gas diffusion capacity

Diagnosis
Peak Flow device
Methacholine challenge
CT Scans
Treatment
Bronchodilators (inhalers), short-term and long-term
 COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
Most people with COPD have a combination of both chronic bronchitis and
emphysema.

Lung Tests / Spirometry , also x-rays and CT-scans

Symptoms:

Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities

Wheezing
Chest tightness
Having to clear your throat first thing in the morning, due to excess mucus in
your lungs
A chronic cough that may produce mucus (sputum) that may be clear, white,
yellow or greenish
Frequent respiratory infections
Lack of energy
Swelling in ankles, feet or legs

Tests

Lung Tests / Spirometry , also x-rays and CT-scans

Treatment

Same as Asthma Bronchodilators & Inhaled steroids

Outlook for COPD and ASTHMA: Controllable Versus Progressive

There is no cure for either COPD or asthma, but the typical prognosis of each
condition is different. With a prompt diagnosis and treatment, asthma can be
well-controlled. Some children may even outgrow the condition as they get older.
COPD, on the other hand, is considered to be a progressive condition, which
means it typically gets worse over time. Even with treatment, lungs damaged by
COPD cant return to normal.
Once the structural changes happen in the lungs, you cant reverse them,
Yoga and Breath
The Yogis believe that if we can control our respiration we can control every
aspect of our being. Breathing usually evolves at the edge of our awareness but
will and volition are always at our disposal
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Just as lions, elephants and tigers are gradually controlled, so the prana is
controlled through practice. Otherwise, the practitioner is destroyed. (2:15)
By proper practice of pranayama, all diseases are eradicated. Through
improper practice, all diseases can arise. (2:16)
Hiccup, asthma, cough, headache, ear and eye pain, and various other
diseases are due to disturbances of the vital air. (2:17)
The vayu should be skillfully inhaled, exhaled and retained so that perfection or
siddhi is attained. (2:18)
When the nadis are purified, there are external symptoms. Success is definite
when the body becomes thin and glows. (2:19)

YRF STUDY INDIA 2006

Yoga Research Foundation conducted a study in 2006 in Bhopal on the effects of
ujjayi pranayama. 22 asthmatics, and 17 healthy adults practiced ujjayi
(VICTORIOUS FORCE BREATHING) for over one month for five minutes every day.
The asthmatics gained the most from the practice.
Oxygen saturation or the amount of oxygen assimilated into blood increased
from 0.75 percent up to five percent (maximum), the average being two percent
- a significant percentage clinically.
Ujjayi pranayama creates positive airway pressure due to constant partial
contraction of the glottis and prevents closure of smaller bronchi towards the end
of exhalation.
STUDY 2 EGYPT 2016
Participants: Forty patients (25 men and 15 women) who suffered from
mild bronchial asthma for at least 8 years participated in this study.
Patients were randomly assigned into; experimental group (Group A)
that included 20 asthmatic and control group (Group B) that included 20
asthmatic patients

Methods: In both groups, patients received Diaphragmatic Breathing

(DB) exercise and VICTORIOUS BREATHING and asthmatic medications.

Experimental group received UPT in addition to other interventions.

Exercises in both groups were done for 3 sessions weekly over 8 weeks.
The two groups were evaluated pre-training and after 2 months of
training by using computerized spirometer for measuring
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), TOTAL
Forced Expiratory Volume in first /second (FEV 1 ) and their ratio FEV1
/FVC.

Results: The experimental group showed that there is significant

increase in both forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in
first over the control group Both groups significantly improved in all
parameters after 2 months.
Conclusions: This study showed that UPT, combined with medical
treatment and diaphragmatic breathing exercise improve FVC, FEV 1 and
FEV1 /FVC% in patients with mild bronchial asthma
Why Yoga Helps !
Diaphragm training
Diaphragm - transverse abdominis dynamic
Kapalabhati - emptying lungs and prevention of hyperinflation
Ujayi (Vital Force Pranayama)
Slow deep, regular breaths - deep breathing (in studies)
Deep breathing complemented by ujjayi breath
During an attack direct the person towards a slower and smoother
breath
Agitation and poor breathing produce a vicious circle
Inhalation/Exhalation: 1:2
Pausing after exhalation, not after inhalation

Improved posture
Slumped posture - pressure on the superior abdominal organs and
diaphragm
Gomukhasana better chest posture / breathing one lung
Trikonasana - thoracic stretch
Physical reconditioning
Physical deconditioning common consequence of most chronic
diseases
Stress reduction
MORE REST
Shavasana
LIFESTYLE TIPS

NETI POT

&

JOURNALING ABOUT STRESS STUFY N.I.H. 1999

CONCLUSION:
Patients with mild to moderately severe asthma or rheumatoid arthritis who
wrote about stressful life experiences had clinically relevant changes in health
status at 4 months compared with those in the control group. These gains
were beyond those attributable to the standard medical care that all
participants were receiving.

It remains unknown whether these health improvements will persist beyond 4

months or whether this exercise will prove effective with other diseases.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/189437