| Oxygen content in the body can be found using a | | | | breathe more frequently and have reduced body |
| simple test. After sitting at rest for about 5 | | | | oxygenation. At the same time, people who have |
| minutes, exhale normally and hold breath by pinching | | | | normal breathing take smaller inhalations, only about |
| your nose. Count how many seconds you can hold | | | | 10-12 times per minute and have better body |
| your breath. When you get the first sensation or | | | | oxygenation. |
| desire to breathe, release the nose and resume | | | | Why does this take place? In other words, why |
| breathing. | | | | does breathing more reduce body oxygenation? |
| Oxygen content in the body can be found using a | | | | People with normal breathing have about 98% |
| simple test. After sitting at rest for about 5 | | | | oxygen saturation of the haemoglobin cells. Hence, |
| minutes, exhale normally and hold breath by pinching | | | | by breathing more, one cannot improve blood |
| your nose. Count how many seconds you can hold | | | | oxygenation, the only effect would be reduction in |
| your breath. When you get the first sensation or | | | | the CO2 content in cells. Carbon dioxide(CO2) has |
| desire to breathe, release the nose and resume | | | | been found to be a powerful dilator of blood vessels, |
| breathing. If you are not stressed after the test, | | | | and is crucial for release of oxygen by red blood cells |
| and your breathing pattern is as usual as before, then | | | | in the capillaries and tissues. Hence physiologically, it |
| the test is correct. You will get a number in | | | | is normal that sick people have reduced body |
| seconds. | | | | oxygenation due to over-breathing. |
| Dozens of western studies found that breath-holding | | | | The Buteyko breathing method has two parts. |
| time is reduced for many chronic conditions, including | | | | Students practice breathing exercises and adjust their |
| asthma, heart disease, panic attacks, COPD, and | | | | lifestyle factors, in order to have easy breathing 24 |
| many others. Practical observations of doctors | | | | 7. Some important benefiting lifestyle factors are |
| revealed that people who are critically ill or | | | | constant nasal breathing, physical activity with nasal |
| hospitalized have less than 10 seconds of oxygen in | | | | breathing, prevention of sleeping on ones back, |
| their body. People on medication who are in stable | | | | correct posture, eating only when hungry, good |
| conditions usually score between 10 and 20 seconds | | | | thermal regulation, prevention of nutritional |
| for this breath-holding time test. The average | | | | deficiencies, wholesome diet, and relaxation |
| modern healthy person scores about 20-30 | | | | exercises. |
| seconds. About a century ago, healthy people had | | | | When people practice the Buteyko breathing method, |
| up to 40-60 seconds of breath holding time. | | | | they improve their body oxygenation by about 2-5 |
| There is only one therapy which uses this test as the | | | | seconds in 1 week. Therefore, if students start |
| main tool of evaluating personal health. The name | | | | with 10-15 seconds, they are able to achieve up to |
| of this therapy is the Buteyko breathing method. | | | | 25-30 seconds of breath holding time in just one |
| Practically, it was found that the key parameter that | | | | month. At this stage, the symptoms of asthma, |
| defines body oxygenation is the breathing pattern. | | | | heart disease, blocked nose, fatigue, problems with |
| The people who have deep breathing patterns, also | | | | sleep, and many others disappear. |