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The Buteyko breathing technique (BBT) was developed in the 1960s by an Ukranian physician and academic, Professor Konstantin Buteyko. In the late 1980s the technique started to spread to Western countries, it is now well established in the UK and is recommended in the British Thoracic Society British Guideline on the Management of Asthma1.
BBT consists of a system of breathing exercises designed to help people with breathing problems to control their breathing and reduce their tendency to hyperventilate. As well as the use of specific breathing exercises, BBT also pays attention to diet, physical exercise and emotional factors.
There are now five published studies showing that this approach to managing asthma symptoms leads to a reduction in the need for bronchodilator medication of 60-95% with no reduction in quality of life2-6.
None of the clinical trials have shown any increase in adverse events such as increased symptoms, hospital attendance or the need for a rescue course of steroids as a result of learning BBT.
One of the fundamental principles underlying the use of BBT is that it is fully compatible with continuing medical management. As a result there is no conflict between the use of BBT and the medical management of breathing problems. The aim is to encourage those being taught Buteyko to return to their doctor to discuss any change in medication as a result of a reduction in symptoms.
1 British Thoracic Society and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, British Guideline on the
Management of Asthma, (www.sign.ac.uk)
2 Bowler SD et al. Med. J. Aust; 169; 11‐12, 1998.Buteyko Breathing Techniques in Asthma: a blinded
randomised control trial.
3 McHugh P et al. New Zealand Med. J.; 116; 1187, 2003.Buteyko Breathing Technique for asthma: an
effective intervention.
4Opat AJ et al. J. of Asthma, 2000; 37(7); 557‐64. A clinical trial of the Buteyko Breathing Technique in
asthma as taught by a video
5Cooper S et al. Thorax; 58(8); 2003 649‐59. Effect of two Breathing exercises (Buteyko and Pranayama) in
asthma: a randomised controlled trial.
6Cowie R et al. Resp. Medicine; 2008 102(5); 726‐732. A randomised controlled trial of the BBT as an adjunct
to conventional management of asthma. |
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The Canadian Trial, 2008
A Canadian trial in 2008 found that asthmatics learning Buteyko were able to significantly reduce their daily dose of inhaled corticosteroids and many were able to stop taking long acting β2 agonists. A significant increase in quality of life was also reported.
Cowie R et al. Resp. Medicine; 2008 102(5); 726-732. |
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The New Zealand Trial, 2003
A trial in 2003 in New Zealand found that asthmatics learning Buteyko were able to significantly reduce their dose of asthma medication.
After only six weeks, asthmatics who learned Buteyko had reduced their reliever medicines by an average of 95% and their inhaled steroids by 40%.
McHugh P, NZ Med J. 2003;116:1187 |
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