| Titel: | Effect of yoga breathing exercises (pranayama) on airway reactivity in subjects with asthma |
|---|---|
| Autor: | Singh, V. Wisniewski, A. Britton, J. Tattersfield, A. |
| Mediengruppe: | journal article |
| Herausgeber: | --- |
| Zeitschrift: | The Lancet; Lancet |
| Jahr: | 1990 |
| Band: | 335 |
| Heft: | 8702 |
| Seiten: | 1381 - 1383 |
| Sprache: | English, englisch |
| Abstract: | The effects of two pranayama yoga breathing exercises on airway reactivity, airway calibre, symptom scores, and medication use in patients with mild asthma were assessed in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. After baseline assessment over 1 week, 18 patients with mild asthma practised slow deep breathing for 15 min twice a day for two consecutive 2-week periods. During the active period, subjects were asked to breathe through a Pink City lung (PCL) exerciser--a device which imposes slowing of breathing and a 1:2 inspiration:expiration duration ratio equivalent to pranayama breathing methods; during the control period, subjects breathed through a matched placebo device. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate, symptom score, and inhaler use over the last 3 days of each treatment period were assessed in comparison with the baseline assessment period; all improved more with the PCL exerciser than with the placebo device, but the differences were not significant. There was a statistically significant increase in the dose of histamine needed to provoke a 20% reduction in FEV1 (PD20) during pranayama breathing but not with the placebo device. The usefulness of controlled ventilation exercises in the control of asthma should be further investigated |