Breathing exercises in asthma
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Imperial College London, NHLI, Charing Cross Hospital Campus, London W6 8RP, UK; m.partridge@imperial.ac.uk
Keywords: breathing exercises; asthma; complementary
It was a pleasure to read a report of a well conducted trial into a complementary treatment for asthma.1 This is a subject which attracts considerable media attention. The authors of this report and the author of an accompanying 2 both introduce their articles with a reference to "a third of respondents in a recent asthma survey having tried one or more breathing techniques to relieve symptoms".3 While their quote is correct, the report to which they refer is of a survey of members of the UK National Asthma Campaign. Such a membership may not be typical of those with asthma. In a more recent study of a stratified cross section of the asthma population we found only 6% of the study population to be current users of complementary therapies. That use was greatest among those who expressed most concern regarding their current medication.4
References
1. Cooper S, Oborne J, Newton S, et al. Effect of two breathing exercises (Buteyko and pranayama) in asthma: a randomised controlled trial. Thorax 2003;58:674–9.
2. Thomas M. Breathing exercises and asthma. Thorax 2003;58:649–50.
3. Ernst E. Complementary therapies for asthma: what patients use. J Asthma 1998;35:667–71.
4. Partridge MR, Dockrell M, Smith NM. The use of complementary medicines by those with asthma. Respir Med 2003;97:436–8.(M R Partridge)
Keywords: breathing exercises; asthma; complementary
It was a pleasure to read a report of a well conducted trial into a complementary treatment for asthma.1 This is a subject which attracts considerable media attention. The authors of this report and the author of an accompanying 2 both introduce their articles with a reference to "a third of respondents in a recent asthma survey having tried one or more breathing techniques to relieve symptoms".3 While their quote is correct, the report to which they refer is of a survey of members of the UK National Asthma Campaign. Such a membership may not be typical of those with asthma. In a more recent study of a stratified cross section of the asthma population we found only 6% of the study population to be current users of complementary therapies. That use was greatest among those who expressed most concern regarding their current medication.4
References
1. Cooper S, Oborne J, Newton S, et al. Effect of two breathing exercises (Buteyko and pranayama) in asthma: a randomised controlled trial. Thorax 2003;58:674–9.
2. Thomas M. Breathing exercises and asthma. Thorax 2003;58:649–50.
3. Ernst E. Complementary therapies for asthma: what patients use. J Asthma 1998;35:667–71.
4. Partridge MR, Dockrell M, Smith NM. The use of complementary medicines by those with asthma. Respir Med 2003;97:436–8.(M R Partridge)