Asthma Statistics


Asthma management in the western world has changed little in the past 40 years, other than the introduction of more potent and varied medications. 

Both the incidence and death rate of asthma in developed countries have steadily increased, and western medical science seems to be no closer to identifying the cause.

  • Around 700 Australians die from asthma each year.
  • Over 2 million Australians have been clinically diagnosed with asthma.
  • Over 40% of Australian school aged children have asthma.
  • Over 12% of Australian adults have asthma.
  • The incidence of asthma in Australian school aged children has increased significantly in the last 20 years.
  • The number of prescriptions for asthma treatment in Australia is estimated to be over 10 million per year.
  • Asthma is the most common chronic illness of children and adolescents.
  • The total cost burden of asthma to the Australian community is estimated to be over $750 million per year.
  • This total of over $750 million consists of both medical related costs and indirect costs due to lost productivity and absenteeism.

Asthma


The Buteyko Method has been used in Australia for the management of Asthma since the early 1990s. The purpose of the method is to normalise the breathing pattern, as the underlying cause of Asthma is a dysfunctional breathing pattern.

Normalisation of the breathing pattern results in a significant decrease in symptoms. Typically, over 90% of Buteyko course participants are able to come off all of their reliever medication within a week of starting the course. 

From the Buteyko perspective, Asthma is not a disease,  it is simply a collection of symptoms – bronchospasm, mucous production and inflammation of the lining of the airways, which are due to dysfunctional breathing.

The symptoms of Asthma are brought on by breathing more air than the physiological requirements of the human body at rest, which is 4 - 5 litres of air per minute. Clinical studies have shown that Asthma sufferers coming to the Buteyko course typically breathe about 14 litres of air per minute whilst at rest. That is enough air for 3 to 4 people!  

This constant overbreathing (chronic hyperventilation) causes a gas imbalance in the lungs and the blood. In particular, too much carbon dioxide is expelled from the lungs. The symptoms of Asthma are a direct result of an insufficient Carbon Dioxide level in the lungs.

Most people believe that Carbon Dioxide is only a waste product, and that it has no actual purpose in the body. In actual fact, Carbon Dioxide is an absolutely crucial element in the proper healthy functioning of the human body.

When Carbon Dioxide levels are too low, the body has problems in transporting Oxygen to the cells and tissues, which is where it needs to get to in order to be of any use.

When the level of Carbon Dioxide in the lungs and blood is lacking, what actually happens is that the Oxygen molecules remain in the blood, and not enough Oxygen is transported to the cells of the body. This particular phenomenon occurs due to 'The Bohr Effect'.

You can think of Carbon Dioxide as the 'key' which unlocks Oxygen and allows it to be transported into the cells of the body.

For normal healthy functioning, the body needs a concentration of at least 5.5% carbon dioxide in the lungs. By constantly overbreathing, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the lungs is lowered.

By constantly overbreathing, the end result will be the onset of symptoms.

  • Carbon dioxide is a natural smooth muscle dilator or relaxant. When we have too little carbon dioxide our smooth muscle (which is wrapped around the tiny air tubes of our lungs) will go into spasm - experienced as tightness and difficulty breathing out.
  • Oxygen is slow to be released from the blood (Bohr Effect and the Oxy-Haemoglobin Dissociation Curve). This will be experienced as breathlessness.
  • Mast cells, responsible for part of our immune response become super-sensitive to perceived allergens, releasing large amounts of histamine, producing inflammation.
  • Over-breathing dries out the airways, inflaming them and encouraging mucous formation

The purpose of the Buteyko Method is to teach people to normalise their breathing pattern. When breathing rates are normal, the level of carbon dioxide within the body will be normal and the body functions well. The smooth muscle around the airways will stay relaxed, oxygen will move more quickly from the blood to all the cells, mast cells will function appropriately and the mucous membranes of the airways will not be inflamed.

By learning the Buteyko Method people are able to overcome most asthma symptoms by using the breathing exercises. This enables a reduction in asthma reliever medication.