Please do not discard. The following information might help afriend.

The purpose of this booklet is to draw attention to arational new approach to reversing asthma and themany related chronic hyperventilation disorders.

For more information on chronic hyperventilation syndromeand Buteyko therapy, see:

http://www.wt.com.au/~pkolb/buteyko.htm

Companion Booklet:“Buteyko — Guide for doctors”

ContentsWhy you have asthma 3How breathing too much makes you sick 4Asthma: Bronchospasm 7 Inflammation of airways 8Why do not all hyperventilators get asthma? 10What causes chronic hyperventilation? 11How does Buteyko therapy help? 13Symptoms of chronic hyperventilation 14References 15

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WHY YOU HAVE ASTHMA

You have asthma because youhave been habitually breathingmore air than your bodyrequires. This holds for allasthmatics, no matter what“type” of asthma they have.

It was in Russia that thisdiscovery was made by medicaldoctor and scientist, ProfessorKonstantin Buteyko. Naturally itsurprises many asthmatics whofeel they are not getting enoughair and may even be sufferingfrom severe airway obstruction.

In fact, the health problems resulting from breathing toomuch are vast and varied and have been described in themedical literature for the whole of the last century. Everypart of your body, every organ and every system is affectedby over breathing.8 This disorder has been given manynames

14, but Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome (CHVS)describes best the huge complex of symptoms to which itgives rise. What is still puzzling those doctors familiar withCHVS is why this elementary piece of medical science hasremained hidden in the medical journals.8,10

The good news is that Professor Buteyko has developed asimple therapy that teaches you to make a habit of breathingless. This will reverse the disorder together with itssymptoms, including asthma.

K.P.Buteyko

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HOW BREATHING TOO MUCH MAKES YOU SICK

The body does not have to regulate Oxygen since undernormal breathing conditions the blood holds just about asmuch oxygen as it can. If you hyperventilate (breathe morethan you need to), you don’t get any more oxygen. Toomuch breathing flushes out too much of that valuablecarbon dioxide. As will be shown later, with insufficient carbondioxide not enough oxygen can get to the brain, and as a

result you become dizzy andfaint.

A popular myth is thatcarbon dioxide is nothingmore than a waste product.Yet it is as important to lifeas is water, which is just asmuch a waste product.

The body contains acomplex biochemicalfactory, which produceshormones, enzymes, andeverything needed to keepyou healthy. Manyhundreds of biochemicalprocesses rely on the rightmix of carbon dioxide in

Breathing is a mechanism for regulating theacidity of the blood through the controlledrelease of carbon dioxide.

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water to make the right products in the right quantities.

If you breathe too much for too long, over-breathingbecomes a habit and you develop a chronic shortageof carbon dioxide4,8,12,13.Since all the chemicalsthe body manufacturesand all the body’scontrol functionsdepend on carbondioxide7, a shortageupsets the entirebiochemical balance ofthe body8 leading to awhole host of disorders.Some of these,commonly found in themedical literature, arelisted at the back.

But apart from themassive disturbance tothe body’s biochem-istry, a shortage ofcarbon dioxide has two other very important effects.

1. Poor oxygenation of tissues: Hemoglobin is thecomponent of blood that collects oxygen from thelungs and delivers it to the body’s tissues where it isneeded. Carbon dioxide helps unload the oxygen.This basic physiological principle is known as theBohr effect and has been understood for a long time.

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The importance of this lies in the fact that if thebaseline level of carbon dioxide is low, then oxygen isnot fully released from the hemoglobin when it isrequired, and goes back to the lungs on a wasted trip.The result is that if you breathe more than you need to,your cells actually get less oxygen, resulting in afeeling of breathlessness which makes you try tobreathe even more .

2. Smooth Muscle spasm: Low carbon dioxide is known tocause spasm in the smooth muscle found in the walls ofblood vessels, the bronchioles of the lungs, ducts,glands and the gut.3,4,8,12,13

Reduced blood flowresulting from narrowing ofthe blood vessels due tospasm of the smoothmuscle, together with thedepressed Bohr effect cancause migraines, fainting,angina pains and highblood pressure. 3,12 Spasmsare known to occur in theduodenum and in the gutproducing conditions suchas spastic colon and irritable bowel syndrome.12 Thespasm in the bronchioles produces wheezing as found in asthma.3,4,8,12,13

HighCO2

LowCO2

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ASTHMAThe two major components of asthma are bronchospasm andinflammation of the airways

1. Bronchospasm

The bronchioles are the tiny end branches of the respiratorytract. These little tubes carry air into the sac-like alveoli wherethe gas exchange between air and blood takes place. Thealveoli are very tiny, a pair of lungs containing some 500billion of them. In the walls of the bronchioles you find the

smooth muscle standing guard at the entrance to the alveoli.Its function is to regulate the amount of air going into thealveoli in order to even out ventilation throughout the lungs.

In asthmatics the baseline shortage of carbon dioxide pushesthe bronchioles near to a state of closure, making them

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twitchy and quick to react to any further momentary increasein breathing. A stressful thought, a stressful allergen oreven a hearty laugh can push them over the edge. So whenyour doctor asks you to take a deep breath and blow into aspirometer or peak flow meter, you shouldn’t be surprised ifyou end up with an asthma attack. In fact, the instrument is

really measuring your lungs’ ability to respond to overbreathing. The lungs of asthmatics have bronchioles that areparticularly good at doing their job. For this reason,according to the Buteyko theory, these tests are notconsidered useful indicators of disease.

2. Inflammation of the airways

Professor Buteyko tells us that allergic inflammation of thelungs is the result of a malfunctioning immune system. This isthe consequence of the biochemical disturbances caused byan abnormally low level of carbon dioxide.

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Your immune system is a finely tuned biochemical warfaremechanism designed to seek out invaders and destroy them.It has to distinguish between invaders that will cause youharm and the harmless material you get in your blood after ameal, or some pollens you may have inhaled. The immunesystem cannot function properly if its biochemical buildingblocks are disturbed . People who have abnormal allergicreactions have an immune system which is failing to performits functions correctly. In the case of arthritis, the disordercauses the body’s immune system to turn on itself. Inasthmatics the immune system has trouble differentiatingbetween serious and harmless foreign material. That’s whyharmless pollens can cause inflammation of the airways,triggering hay fever or even asthma in people who breathetoo much.

HYPERVENTILATION LOW CO2

PROFOUND BIOCHEMICAL

DISTURBANCE

MALFUNCTIONING

IMMUNE SYSTEM

ALLERGIC RESPONSE — INFLAMMATION OF THE

AIRWAYS, ECZEMA.....

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WHY DON'T ALL HYPERVENTILATORS GET ASTHMA?

So why do some people who breathe too much get asthma,others get arthritis and others get high blood pressure?

The answer is that it depends very much on geneticpredisposition. We are as different from each other internallyas we are externally. As one biochemical process afteranother becomes affected by low CO2, the way the bodycompensates is very individual, varying from person toperson. That’s why not everyone who habituallyhyperventilates gets asthma.

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WHAT CAUSES CHRONIC HYPERVENTILATION?There are many factors that can make you habitually breathetoo much. One of them is the popular idea that breathingmore than you need is good for you, although there is noscientific basis for this notion. Eating too much, notexercising enough and keeping too warm can also make youbreathe too much. But the one we all know to be the cause ofmany diseases is chronic stress. And this is how it works:

The body sometimesdeliberately producesa shortage of carbondioxide. It does so aspart of a processdesigned to deal with aphysical threat to lifeknown as the fight or flight response. A chain of biologicalchanges comes about as we are faced with a life threatening

situation. These are intended toenhance our chances of survival.

All stresses we face, includingpleasant ones, elicit this responseto some extent. We are familiarwith the sweaty palms, poundingheart, rapid breathing andheightened nervous activitywhether before an exam, a romanticencounter or from seeing movingshadows in a dark alley. These

effects are very real and are well understood by doctors.

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They cause no harm provided the stress is properlydischarged and it is short lived. But today we face newkinds of stresses for which we were not designed.

If the stress lasts for a long time, then biochemical changestake place inside the body that makes breathing too muchbecome a habit.

Stresses faced by modern man often remain undischargedand linger on for a very long time. Examples include workrelated stresses, social stresses and financial worries.

The resulting low carbon dioxide causes many of the normalfight or flight responses intended for preservation of theindividual to turn into debilitating disorders.

STRESS HYPERVENTILATION

HABITUAL

STRESS × T IME HYPERVENTILATION

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HOW DOES BUTEYKO THERAPY HELP?In the same way that over breathing for too long becomes ahabit, so Buteyko therapy reverses this process. Bylearning to breathe less over a long time you can restoreCO2 back to a healthy level. The effect of this is thathyperventilation disorders, such as asthma, disappear asyour CO2 level is raised.

Learning to do this is somethinglike learning Yoga or a martialart. Typically you are taught themethod by a Buteyko practitionerwho will:

• Explain your condition to you.

• Demonstrate the posture andbreathing technique that willhelp you reduce yourbreathing.

• Ensure that you perform the breathing exercisescorrectly.

• Teach you how to measure your breathing correctly.

• Advise on life style changes as they affect youpersonally.

• Help identify problems that may hold up your progress.

• Provide motivation, support and follow up.

SYMPTOMS OF HYPERVENTILATION SYNDROMESee references p15-16BiochemicalElectrolyte changes4,12

Elevated Lactic Acid8

Elevated lipids12

Elevated calcium ionisation inside cells12

Elevated sugar levels12

Hypophosphatemia10,13,15

Accommodation to low CO24,12,13

Elevated uric acid12

Loss of CO2 and base reserve8,12

Low Calcium ions8

Poor oxygenation due to Bohr effect4, 8,13

Cardio-vascularPalpitations1,3,4,8,10,12,13,

Cardiac neurosis1,3,12

Angina pain12

Myocardial infarction12

Wolfe-Parkinson-White syndrome12

Arrhythmias3,4,12

Stenosis of coronary artery4,12,13,15

Tachycardia3,8,12,14,14

Failure of coronary bypass grafts12

Right ventricular ectopy12

Silent ischaemia12

Elevated blood pressure12

ECG: Flat or inverted T-wave4,12,13,14

Vasoconstriction3,4,8,12,13

Reduced cerebral blood flow3,8,10,13,15

Mitral prolapse1,3,12,14

Low cardiac output/stroke volume15

DigestiveSpastic colon12

Dysphagia3,8

Dry mouth1,10,15

Flatulence and belching1,3,10,15

Irritable bowel syndrome12

Dry throat3,15

Hiatus hernia12

Duodenal spasm12

Globus3,8,14,15

Vomiting8

Bloating8,10

Constipation8

Epigastric Pain8

Aerophagia3,8,12,14

Diarrhoea8

GeneralMigraines3,12

Failure of Transurethral resections12

Edema12

Restlessness12

Da Costa's Syndrome10,12,13

Excessive sweating3,13,14

Burnout12

Raynaud's disease8,12

Chest Pains1,3,4,8,10,12,13

Post traumatic stress disorders12

Weakness, listlessness1,3,8,10,12,13

Genito-urinary disturbances3,12

Nausea14

Renal colic12

Influenza-like symptoms12

Sleep disturbances3,8,12,15

Exhaustion3

Fatigueability, exercise intolerance8,10,14,15

Neuro-muscularMuscular stiffness and aching8,12

Myalgia (muscle pain)3,8

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Cramps3

Muscle spasm3,4,8,12,13

Tetani3,8,15

Fibromyositis15

Head and Back pain14

Tremors or shaking3,8,14

NeurologicalParesthesia, numbness1,3,4,8,10,12,13

Twitching Eyelids8

Headaches8

Increased sympathetic tone8,10,13,14,15

Nerve irritability threshold altered15

Decreased parasympathetic tone3

Unilateral paresthesia or numbness(left)14

EEG abnormalities13

Diplopia8

Syncope, fainting3,4,8

Feeling of chilliness14

Hot/cold sensations14

Visual Disturbances3,4,8,13,15

Dizziness, light headedness,giddiness1,3,4,8,10,13

Intolerance of bright light & noise3

Hyperactivity3

Auditory Disturbances4

Seizures, epileptic fits4,8,13

PsychologicalTension3,8,15

Fear of insanity3

Depersonalization3,14

Hallucination3

Lack of concentration and memoryloss1,3,15

Nightmares3,8

Unreal feelings3,14,15

Panic attacks3,12

Anorexia10

Depression10

Feelings of inadequacy10

Anxiety8,12,13,15

Maladjustments in life 10

Phobias 1,3,8,10,12

Obsessional behaviour10

RespiratoryAsthma3,4,8,12,13

Choking14

Chest Tightness3,4,8,13

Irritable cough3,8,15

Sighing and yawning3,8,13,14,15

Dyspnea4,10,12,13,14

Bronchoconstriction14

Shortness of breath, air hunger1,4,8,10,12,13

REFERENCES1. Bass C, "The hyperventilation syndrome", Respiratory Diseases in Practice,

Oct/Nov 1990, 13-162. Bowler S, Green A, Mitchell C, "Buteyko breathing and asthma: a controlled

trial", Medical J. of Australia, VOL 169, December 1998, 575-5783. Cluff RA, "Chronic Hyperventilation and its treatment by physiotherapy:

discussion paper", J of the Royal Society of Medicine, VOL 77, September 1984,855-861

4. Demeter SL, Cordasco EM, "Hyperventilation syndrome and asthma", TheAmerican Journal of Medicine, VOL 81, December 1986, 989-994

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5. Guyton AC, Hall JE, "Textbook of medical physiology", Chemical control ofrespiration, PUBLISHER: WB Saunders; ISBN:0-7216-5944-6; 1996; EDITION:9; PAGES: 527-528.

6. Hibbert GA, Pilsbury DJ, "Demonstration and Treatment of HyperventilationCausing Asthma", British J. of Psychiatry, VOL 153, 1988, 687-689

7. Kazarinov VA, "Buteyko Method: The experience of implementation in medicalpractice", The biochemical basis of KP Buteyko's theory of the diseases of deeprespiration, EDITOR: Buteyko KP; PUBLISHER: Patriot Press Moscow; 1990;PAGES: 198-218. [Available: http://www.wt.com.au/~pkolb/biochem.htm]

8. Lum LC, "Hyperventilation: The tip and the iceberg", J Psychosom Res, VOL19, 1975, 375-383

9. Magarian GJ, "Hyperventilation syndrome: infrequently recognized commonexpressions of anxiety and stress.", Medicine, VOL 61, 1982, 219-36

10. Magarian GJ, Middaugh DA, Linz DH, "Hyperventilation Syndrome: adiagnosis begging for recognition", West J Med, VOL 138, 1983, 733-736

11. McFadden WR, Lyons HA, "Arterial-Blood Gas Tension in Asthma", The NewEngland Journal of Medicine, VOL 278:19, 9 May 1968, 1027-1032

12. Nixon PGF, "Hyperventilation and cardiac symptoms", Internal Medicine, VOL10:12, December 1989, 67-84

13. Sher TH, "Recurrent chest tightness in a 28-year-old woman", Annals of allergy,VOL 67, September 1991, 310-314

14. Tavel ME, "Hyperventilation syndrome - Hiding behind pseudonyms?", Chest,VOL 97, 1990, 1285-1288

15. Waites TF, "Hyperventilation - chronic and acute", Arch Intern Med, VOL 138,1978, 1700-1701

Produced by Peter Kolb BSc(Eng), MSc(Med)Illustrations by Victor Lunn-Rockliffe—Clipart from McMillan

Buteyko Asthma Education Co. USA

Susan NevesTelephone: 317-824-0328Tollfree: 877-278-4623

email: sneves@buteyko-usa.com