Yoga proven to be helpful for the treatment of Bronchial Asthma
Category : Yoga
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways.
The chronic inflammation causes an associated increase in airway hyperresponsiveness that leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing at night or in the early morning.
The outline of Yoga classes for asthma generally include a set of breathing and relaxation techniques including breath slowing exercises (pranayama), physical postures (yogasanas), and meditation.
Most of the studies have reported, as the effects of yoga on bronchial asthma, significant improvements in pulmonary functions, quality of life, and decrease in medication use.
A study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of yoga on biochemical profile of asthmatics. (Scientific study :source)
A total 276 patients of mild to moderate asthma (FEV 1> 60%) aged between 12 to 60 years were participated in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups:
Yoga group (with standard medical treatment and yogic intervention) and control group as standard medical treatment (without yogic intervention).
At completion of 6 months of the study period, 35 subjects were dropped out, so out of 276 subjects, only 241 subjects completed the whole study (121 subjects from yoga group and 120 subjects from control group). Biochemical assessment was carried out at baseline and after 6 months of the study period.
Result has shown that in yoga group, there was significant improvement found in the proportion of hemoglobin and antioxidant superoxide dismutase in comparison to control group and significant decrease was found in total leukocyte count (TLC) and differential leukocytes count in comparison to control group. There was no significant change found in TLC, polymorphs, and monocytes in between group comparison.
Yoga group got significantly better improvement in biochemical variables than control group. Result shows that yoga can be practiced as adjuvant therapy with standard inhalation therapy for better outcome of asthma.
Another study has shown that yoga impart a significant degree of relaxation, positive attitude, and better yoga exercise tolerance. There was also a tendency toward lesser usage of beta adrenergic inhalers. (Scientific study: Source)
To investigate whether autonomic functions and pulmonary functions are improved in asthma patients after short term yoga training, a study was conducted with nine diagnosed bronchial asthma patients. (Scientific study: Source)
The results closely indicated the reduction in sympathetic reactivity and improvement in the pulmonary ventilation by way of relaxation of voluntary inspiratory and expiratory muscles.
Conclusion
Yoga is proven to be effective treatment for asthma problem.
How yoga can help people with Asthma?
The comprehensive yogic life style change for patients of Bronchial Asthma have shown significant benefit even within a short period.
Benefits of yoga for asthma patients
- Improve pulmonary functions.
- Improve proportion of hemoglobin and antioxidant superoxide dismutase.
- Decreases total leukocyte count (TLC) and differential leukocytes count.
- Improve quality of life.
- Promote relaxation.
- Build positive attitude.
- Decreases the use of beta adrenergic inhalers.
- Decrease in medication use.
How yoga helped you in managing stress or health concerns like Asthma? Which asana (posture) or breathing exercise you find it more helpful? Share your thoughts in comments below!
