Buteyko Manual For Asthma Continued. Page 79 For many children, asthma does not recur after the first session, as they simply breathe like a mouse as soon as they feel the start of the symptoms. For many just ensuring that the mouth is closed will stop the asthma. If there is an attack [asthma, coughing, blocked nose or other] then the tactic is to breathe like a mouse for a minute or two, [while smothering any coughing] then do 2 or 3 sets of steps, and if there isn’t much improvement — use the relief medication. It is good to try to do some breathing to try to get relief before using a relief drug if possible, but if the onset of your childs asthma is very rapid then obviously skip it or do only a very brief attempt. Your child will develop better control and attacks will be less severe as breathing improves [as measured by the number of steps.] The attacks will be avoided rather than having to be dealt with. Usually when your child has built up to 100 steps there will be no asthma. For the majority of children the number is much smaller. The goal of training to get to the point where 100 [or more if the child has athletic ambition] steps are easy, as this means that asthma does not occur. If it does occur [number of steps will have dropped], then begin again, building steps back up to 100, and the asthma will go again. It is not unusual for a child to have a relapse a few months after becoming free of asthma. It is usually less severe, and responds even faster to the same training method that stopped it the first time. A second relapse is unusual, as the first relapse will have allowed the child to further develop his or her breathing skills. If it should occur — do it again — right from the beginning! So, on day one mouth closed, no coughing, and do some sets of steps [3 or 4] perhaps twice in the day, including once before bedtime. Use the system to ensure that nasal breathing is possible [ie use steps to unblock nose if needed.] Go to page 80     Go to beginning of Chapter | HOME | PRODUCTS | ORDER FROM | CONTACT US |