Buteyko for Asthma: Buteyko and children, childhood asthma



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	Buteyko and Children

Asthma in children

There is currently an asthma epidemic in children in the UK, with an estimated 1.1 million suffering from the condition - one in ten children. The UK has amongst the highest prevalence rates of childhood asthma in the world. In the UK, asthma is more widespread in children than adults, and it is the most common long-term childhood medical condition. Respiratory disease is the most common reason for GP consultations in children, accounting for a third of all childhood consultations.

Buteyko benefits

The Buteyko Method offers a safe and natural solution to controlling asthma symptoms, and reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. By using the Buteyko Method, drug usage can be reduced in line with reduced asthma symptoms, and even eliminated in many instances. Drugs used to prevent and control asthma can have long term adverse side effects. Consequently, the sooner your child can reduce their drug usage, the better for their long term health. As well as reduced drug usage, the Buteyko Method can lead to improved sports performance, and also fewer dental problems because nasal rather than mouth breathing is beneficial to maintaining a healthy mouth. The earlier your child corrects their breathing using the Buteyko Method the better, as it is easier to get out of bad breathing habits when you are younger, and have not become accustomed to them. Indeed quality of life improvements can be dramatic in children, as children successfully using the Buteyko exercises can lead a normal child's unrestrained life, without the fear of constant asthma attacks.

Buteyko classes

As long as your child can follow simple instructions, they can learn the Buteyko Method. As a general rule, children over the age of five years are accepted for classes. A parent or guardian should attend the classes free of charge with their child. This is in order that they understand the theory and practice of the Buteyko Method, are able to supervise their child performing breathing exercises correctly at home, and also put in place any necessary dietary and lifestyle changes required for their child. Special exercises have been developed for younger children so that they find it easier to learn, and to make the classes fun.

Buteyko trials involving children

A number of clinical trials have been or are being undertaken into the effectiveness of the Buteyko Method with children. These include:

(1)	In 1980 a trial by the First Moscow Institute of Paediatric Diseases, at the direction of the Government Committee for Science and Technology of the Soviet Ministry of the former USSR. Fifty-two children, suffering from moderately severe and severe asthma, were tested over three months. All children responded positively to the Buteyko Method, and asthma attacks, rhinits, and nasal mucus became less frequent and then disappeared. They found that 83% of the children were considerably improved, and 17% showed some improvement. No children showed lack of improvement. The treatment given consisted of 40 to 90 minutes of breathing training. The children then used the breathing techniques themselves for further periods during the day to relieve their symptoms. After five days, 73% of the children had discontinued all bronchodilator medication, and 15% had been able to reduce their medication.

(2)	As reported to the UK Parliament, in a debate on asthma held on 25 June 2002, a pilot study was undertaken in 2001 at the University of Aberdeen involving a small number of children. The children in Aberdeen were placed in a Buteyko group and a control group, respectively, and the aim of the study was to pilot incorporation of the Buteyko Method into conventional asthma nurse training and delivery of care. The pilot indicated a number of positive trends, with the Buteyko group showing a halving of sleep disturbance due to wheeze, as well as a reduction in the average daily dose of inhaled steroids. The University of Aberdeen subsequently made an application for major funding from the Scottish Office to enable it to carry out a randomised controlled trial on a larger scale involving 80 asthmatic children (results of full trial awaited).

(3)	A Buteyko study is currently taking place at the Gisborne Hospital in New Zealand, involving asthmatic children aged between 7 and 17. Most of the children have exercise-induced asthma, allergies, eczema and other common symptoms of hyperventilation. Early results have shown a substantial reduction in reliever medication, and in the first group taught, not one child was still requiring Ventolin by the end of the week. It is expected that this study will subsequently lead into a gold standard double-blinded cross-over trial.


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