World Asthma Day - 6th May 2008

Asthma rates in the UK are on the increase. Since the 1970s the number
of children with asthma has quadrupled. And one in six adults have
asthma symptoms, with more people in the UK having severe asthma than
anywhere else in the world.

The theme for this year’s World Asthma Day is ‘You can control your
asthma’. Recent research shows that both Buteyko breathing therapy and
conventional respiratory (chest) physiotherapy help people equally to
get better control of their asthma. Those using Buteyko breathing
therapy also used less inhaled steroid therapy.

Buteyko breathing therapy, like conventional chest physiotherapy, is a
safe and gentle complementary therapy which offers help to the growing
number of people with asthma. Named after the Russian professor who
developed the technique, Buteyko is a drug-free method used to treat
adults and children with asthma, panic attacks, anxiety, persistent
cough and other breathing related conditions. Buteyko breathing
therapy is steadily becoming more popular in the UK. It is based on
the theory that over-breathing aggravates certain conditions. The
Buteyko method retrains breathing with the ultimate aim of encouraging
you to breathe less.

In the NHS, breathing techniques to control the symptoms of over-
breathing (called hyperventilation) have been in use for decades by
physiotherapists and many have added Buteyko breathing therapy to
their repertoire as it is becoming better known. It is now being
taught as well as in complementary health clinics.

Events are being held all around the country for World Asthma Day
which is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma to improve
asthma awareness and care around the world.

Local Buteyko breathing therapist Christine Lunt is marking World Asthma
Day on Tuesday May 6th by offering free taster sessions for both
adults and children.

If you want to mark World Asthma Day by finding out more about
Buteyko or wish to book a taster session then
contact Christine Lunt on 0117 9246581