More studies are required in ways of improving breathing control, say researchers at the Respiratory Medicine Unit, City University, Nottingham. Western medicine, they say, has largely ignored Breathing control methods.

Practitioners of yoga have believed for the longest time in the benefits of 'pranayama', a breathing exercises for asthmatics. But, this has been difficult to study in a formal, scientific manner. A Pink City Lung is a device that imposes slow breathing on the user, mimicking pranayama breathing exercises. This device made it possible to measure, in a hospital trial, the effects of controlled breathing.

Tests were done on two simulated pranayama breathing exercises. The first was slow, deep breathing and the second involved breathing out for twice as long you breathe in.

The airways of asthma patients become restricted, making it difficult for them to breathe. It is well documented that asthma is on the rise around the world, and especially in the UK, having affected more than three million adults and children. It is responsible for nearly 2,000 deaths in the UK every year.

Standard clinical tests carried out by doctors to measure the volume of air blown out per second by the patients and to test their airways for irritability. Subsequent to yoga breathing exercises, the patients' airways were found to be less irritable by about two times. This is a dramatic improvement, which resulted from the yoga breathing exercises.

So, to conclude, asthma patients can certainly benefit by experimenting with breathing exercises, although they should not stop their medication. Simply by using some of the controlled breathing principles taught in yoga, they can instantly see a noticeable difference in their reliance on inhalers. If you do know someone who is suffering from asthma, make sure to inform them about some of the studies related to yoga and its affects on breathing.