This week I learned that I can control a mild asthma attack with breathing exercises. I don’t know why, but this amazes me. The other night I was laying in bed, and I began to feel a heaviness in my chest, and the familiar asthma breathing started. My asthma is generally mild, and this episode was just enough to be annoying.
I didn’t feel like getting out of bed and going downstairs to find my purse and rifle around for the inhaler that was undoubtedly hiding beneath all the crap that I keep in that thing, so I lay there, debating if it was worth the effort to get up. I was uncomfortable enough that I couldn’t go back to sleep, but not uncomfortable enough to rouse me from my warm cocoon.
So I started practicing the breathing exercise (the Relaxing Breath one on this site) that I learned a few years ago when I read Andrew Weil’s 8 Weeks to Optimum Health. I couldn’t remember the exact count, so I breathed in on 3 counts, held my breath for 5 counts, and exhaled for 7 or 8. I lay very still and calm, and did the breathing, not really expecting it to work, but figuring it was worth a shot.
Would you believe, that after 3 or 4 minutes, the asthma started to leave and within 5 or 10 minutes, I was nodding off to sleep. But here’s the thing I find hardest to believe. Usually if I have an asthma flare up when I’m going to bed, and I take my inhaler, it stops the asthma, but I usually wake up with asthma symptoms again in the morning. This time, they were totally gone. They didn’t come back.
Last night I started with the asthma symptoms again, and I tried the breathing again, figuring it had been a fluke the first time, but nope. It worked again.
Now, mind you, I do have mild asthma. I’d never neglect proper medical attention where my health is involved. But something about this exercise worked, and any time we can avoid medication, I say more power to us! So if you ever try this, let me know if it works for you. Or if you have medical knowledge that would explain why this worked, I’m happy to hear it.
What did YOU learn this week?
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If you ask me, that is a wonderful thing to have learned. You might be on to something. I’m glad it worked for you! Noone likes to get out of a nice warm bed! LOL
Hugs
Kim
I agree – great you can learn your lessons without having to get up!
I think part of it was that you didn’t panic. It’s so incredibly easy to panic when an asthma attack hits! Staying calm is something I try to do, if for no other reason than to get to my inhalers. I’m *almost* always able to do that but once in awhile …
I don’t go anywhere without my inhalers anymore though. Not even to bed. Never know when that one is going to hit and you do panic.
While I think that is fantastic and I believe you I am in shock! I have battled asthma (mostly allergy induced) since I was a teen and think some kinds of asthma may be easier to handle then others. In my old age when I get a cold or similar it settles in my chest and I become an walking, coughing, wheezing mess…right down to the steroids they use to clear it out. UGH! I have to admit, today I am jealous of your breathing excersizes!
Terra, I have had situations like that, when I had a cat (since I got rid of him, my asthma has gradually become more mild) but I do remember those attacks, and breathing exercises, while they may have helped the panic, would certainly have not gotten rid of the episode. That’s why I stressed several times how mild mine is now. I think I’m battling a cold or something, which is why I’ve been having these flareups. I sometimes go months without using an inhaler.
We do some breathing with Boo when her asthma flares up, it works wonderfully!
Wow! That is amazing! I’m going to share that one with my daughter who has asthma.
It reminded me of the “cure” (not the right word at all) for my daughter’s heart palpitations. She has SVT which is this random thing where her heart races really, really fast. It only happens a few times a year, so the doctor did not prescribe anything for it, but she did say that when it happens my daughter should close her lips real tight and push real hard, like blowing into a straw that has the other end blocked. It stops the palpitations!
glad it worked well for you!
I’ve done breathing exercises for my asthma for a long time…especially when I’m warm and cozy and do not want o get up for my rescue inhaler! This is definitely a nice thing to learn.
There’s something to be said about breathing and being calm. Glad you didn’t have to get up from your warm cocoon.
Better late than never to post right?
I’m tellin’ ya, the holidays are already getting the best of me.
It’s funny you should bring up the breathing technique. I was panicked and stressed yesterday and my husband insisted that I sit down and breathe for a minute. I most certainly did not want to, I had things to finish. But I did and I felt so much more calm and my heart rate went right back down. I’m so thankful he made me do that.
So glad it worked for you. That’s awesome.
I just found your blog, and joined your carnival.
I was recently diagnosed with asthma, and have noticed that the symptoms do get better with breathing. I found that out, because I went out and left my inhaler at home! I will have to try this every time, before using the inhaler.