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what is it?
Asthma is a condition affecting the respiratory system, which causes recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing with a dry cough and feeling of tightness in the chest. In severe attacks it is difficult to breathe properly and the person having the attack feels anxious, restless and panicky. In extreme cases attacks can be fatal. Attacks often come on in the early hours of the morning due to daily fluctuations in body chemistry. The condition, which is becoming more common, already affects some three million people in the UK. It can affect anyone of any age, although it frequently develops in childhood and later gets better.
what causes it?
Asthma is a result of inflammation of the bronchioles, the small airways in the lungs, causing them to narrow. It can be caused by an allergy, for example, to house dust mite, animal fur and skin, and certain foods and drinks. Attacks may also be triggered by factors such as exercise, stress, anxiety, cigarette smoke, air pollution and infections.
how complementary therapies may help
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It's important to recognise that complementary therapies cannot actually cure asthma. If you do choose to take a complementary approach it is essential not to reduce conventional treatment without the full support and agreement of your doctor. Acute asthma attacks should still be treated with effective conventional medicines.
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Each therapy has been coded from 1 to 5 depending on the amount of scientific evidence there is for its effectiveness. The higher the number the stronger the evidence, so 5 = definitely, 4 = probably, 3 = possibly, 2 = opinion, and 1 = rumour. (There is more detail about these in the 'does it work?' section of 'before you start'.)
Having said this, the codes aren't meant to be cast in stone or to put you off trying a particular therapy or therapies if you feel they might be helpful to you.
Go to therapies for a full description of each individual treatment, plus information on how to find practitioners.
autogenic therapy
(code 4)
Autogenic therapy can help you relax and control anxiety and many sufferers report being able to reduce reliance on inhalers and other medication after learning the technique. Some research has shown improvement in lung function in adults with moderate or severe asthma, although other studies have not confirmed this. Again this may be related to control of anxiety.
hypnotherapy
(code 4)
Hypnotherapy can help you relax and control breathing and probably improves asthma by reducing stress. The hypnotherapist will usually show you how to induce a hynotic state to enable you to relax at will.
acupuncture
(code 3)
Acupuncture has proved helpful in making people with asthma feel better, although it does not actually cause changes in the lungs.
chiropractic
(code 3)
Practitioners may aim to improve lung function by manipulation designed to ease any restriction in the movement of the ribcage and by alleviating tension in the chest muscles. However one study failed to show any effect from chiropractic manipulation.
herbal medicine
(code 3)
A herbalist may recommend treatments aimed at reducing the irritability of the airways and dilating the bronchioles (the small airways in the lungs). Treatment will be individualised. Studies of traditional Chinese and Indian herbs have shown promise although more research needs to be done.
homeopathy
(code 3)
Research shows that a type of homeopathy known as isopathy, using high dilutions of substances to which asthma sufferers are allergic, may help improve symptom scores and even lung function, although the evidence is not conclusive.
nutritional therapies
(code 3)
An estimated 2-6% of asthma sufferers are estimated to be sensitive to certain foods. A nutritional practitioner can help you identify particular foods to which you may react and may recommend eliminating certain of these. Practitioners may also recommend supplementing certain vitamins and minerals such as A, C, E, selenium and magnesium as a shortage of these has been linked to asthma, especially in children. In one study vitamin C helped protect against exercise-triggered asthma in some children. Magnesium levels have been found to be low in some people who are prone to severe attacks.
yoga
(code 3)
Because yoga involves learning to control breathing (pranayama), it may help reduce symptoms of asthma, although there are few conclusive studies. At the very least it may help reduce stress which can exacerbate symptoms. One trial of 106 sufferers who practised yoga regularly showed a significant reduction in use of medication, number of attacks and an increase in other measures of lung function.
Alexander technique
(code 2)
An Alexander teacher will teach you how to release tension in the chest and this may help reduce stress as well as increasing the capacity of the chest cavity.
relaxation and breathing
(code 2)
Asthma is often stress related so any technique that helps you to relax and eases stress may be helpful. The Buteyko Breathing Technique, based on the idea that people with asthma breathe incorrectly due to anxiety, is said to help reduce attacks and improve quality of life, although lung function tests fail to show any differences. Further trials are needed although there are many anecdotal reports of improvement.
» help and info
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(July 2002)
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