Consultancy Corner: ‘Meditation and relaxation can reduce asthma attacks’

In the current lifestyles of our advanced society, emotional stress has emerged as a critical problem, which is affecting a major part of the Indian population. This further causes one of the most widespread chronic diseases, bronchial asthma. It is found in people of all ages with varying degrees of severity depending on the psychosocial, environmental factors and inter-current infections. According to WHO, India has 15-20 million asthmatics, with a prevalence of 10-15% in children.

Asthma is generally triggered due to allergens in the environment, physical exertion, infections or due to changes in weather, temperature, or mental stress. It differs from person to person. While some can have an allergic reaction to the environment leading to coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing or chest tightness; others may remain entirely unaffected while breathing the same air.

Emotional stress worsens asthma

Emotional stress and worry worsens asthma symptoms for most people. It primarily results in panic or anxiety attacks, thereby constricting the air passages, making it difficult to breathe. Scientists have recognized and documented a range of stressful events that have been linked to asthma symptoms. Work pressure, anxiety due to impending layoffs, high stake job interviews and business deals, financial worries are also main triggers for asthma.

Breathing better through relaxation and meditation

The act of relaxing the entire body and mind is often used as a therapeutic breathing technique for asthmatics. This helps them breathe easily. Through relaxation, one lets go of all the uneasiness in the body, momentarily. In order to do this, focus on your breathing, spending at least a minute observing your breath, feeling the passage of air through your body as it enters through the nostrils, through the throat and feel it while you exhale it through your mouth. This way, the breathing slows down automatically without having to do it on purpose.

Relieving anxiety and stressthrough meditation

Anxiety is an outcome of asthma, particularly in young people. When psychological suffering accompanies asthma, productivity is compromised, leading to loss of time and finances. Anxiety and depression creates a whirlwind of negative thoughts. Meditation helps in regulating this tumultuous state of mind, by reducing the need to ruminate or brood over problems. It also helps in promoting attention. Among young smokers with Asthma, meditation is used as a tool for controlling substance addiction. There is compelling evidence to recommend Meditation as a complementary therapy to treat asthma. Meditation is useful in reorienting our lifestyle, thereby presenting a permanent and long-term treatment opportunity, adhering to which will result in overall well-being.

Every minute we breathe, there is an affirmation of our desire to continue to live. Our breath is literally our life force. It is therefore vital that we seek to restore the rhythm of breathing through the assimilation of physical, mental and emotional energies within us.