Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009 Jan;2(1):22-5.
doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.53838.

The effect of various breathing exercises (pranayama) in patients with bronchial asthma of mild to moderate severity

Tarun Saxena  1 , Manjari Saxena
Affiliations

The effect of various breathing exercises (pranayama) in patients with bronchial asthma of mild to moderate severity

Tarun Saxena et al. Int J Yoga. 2009 Jan.

Abstract

Background/aim: The incidence of bronchial asthma is on increase. Chemotherapy is helpful during early course of the disease, but later on morbidity and mortality increases. The efficacy of yoga therapy though appreciated is yet to be defined and modified.

Aim: To study the effect of breathing exercises (pranayama) in patients with bronchial asthma of mild to moderate severity.

Materials and methods: Fifty cases of bronchial asthma (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) > 70%) were studied for 12 weeks. Patients were allocated to two groups: group A and group B (control group). Patients in group A were treated with breathing exercises (deep breathing,Brahmari, and Omkara, etc.) for 20 minutes twice daily for a period of 12 weeks. Patients were trained to perform Omkara at high pitch (forceful) with prolonged exhalation as compared to normal Omkara. Group B was treated with meditation for 20 minutes twice daily for a period of 12 weeks. Subjective assessment, FEV1%, and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) were done in each case initially and after 12 weeks.

Results: After 12 weeks, group A subjects had significant improvement in symptoms, FEV1, and PEFR as compared to group B subjects.

Conclusion: Breathing exercises (pranayama), mainly expiratory exercises, improved lung function subjectively and objectively and should be regular part of therapy.

Keywords: Bronchial asthma; FEV1; PEFR; expiratory breathing exercises.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Symptoms in groups A and B, initially and after 12 weeks
Figure 2
Figure 2
FEV1% in groups A and B, initially and after 12 weeks
Figure 3
Figure 3
PEFR L/min in groups A and B after 12 weeks
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forceful exhalation helps to open closed airways in asthma
Figure 5
Figure 5
Prolonged exhalation helps to expel more trapped air in asthma
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. McFadden ER., Jr . Harrison’s principles of Internal medicine. In: Fauci SA, Braunwald E, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, longo DL, Jameson, editors. USA: McGraw Hill; 2005. p. 1511.
    1. Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR. Yoga for bronchial asthma: A controlled study. Br Med J. 1985;291:1077–9. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Goyeche JR, Ikeniy A. The Yoga Perspective part II: Yoga therapy in treatment of asthma. J Asthma. 1982;19:189–201. - PubMed
    1. Vedanathan PK, Kesavalu LN, Murthy K, Durall K, Hall MJ, et al. Nagarathna, Clinical study of Yoga Techniques in university students with asthma: A control study. Allergy Asthma Proc. 1998;19:3–9. - PubMed
    1. Benson H, Rosener BA, Marzetta B, Klemechu KM. Decreased blood pressure in pharmacologically treated. Hypertensive patients who regularly elicited the relaxation response. Lancet. 1974;1:289–92. - PubMed