Asthma - A Breath of Fresh Air

Research at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center casts serious doubts about the prevailing medical view of the cause of asthma and suggests an entirely new way of thinking about a disease that affects a growing number of people today, particularly children.

Until now, doctors assumed that asthmatics were hypersensitive to irritants like dust, pollen or pollutants. This hypersensitivity was thought to cause the airways in the lungs to contract, blocking the flow of air and leaving the patients gasping for breath. This lung airway constriction process was assumed to be absent in nonasthamatics.

But the new study strongly suggests that everyone is susceptible to asthmatic attacks and that the crucial difference between asthmatics and nonasthmatics lies in how well they can breathe after the initial assault on their system--specifically how efficiently they can take the deep breaths necessary to reinflate their lungs and clear the blocked airways.

Researchers used the inhalant drug metachlorine to deliberately constrict nonasthmatics airways. The subjects were then told NOT to breathe deeply. The nonasthamatics suddenly began to have breathing difficulties remarkably similar to those of asthmatics, said Dr. Alkis Tongias, the leader of the group conducting the study. This is just the reaction we would expect if asthma is caused by an impairment of muscle relaxation (in the lungs) triggered by deep breaths.

Dr. Marshall Plaut, chief of the allergic mechanism section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, commented: These are somewhat unpredicted findings...if deep breathing has a critical effect on the way the lung relaxes, it is a mechanism that is not well understood and needs more study.

F. Matthias Alexander, the developer of the Alexander Technique, knew from his own experience a thing or two about gasping for breath, and how to overcome this problem. As early as 1903, he wrote: Imagine the folly of narrowing an air tube when desiring to force a larger volume of air through it: and yet this is exactly what occurs in ordinary breath-taking. When Alexander began teaching his method, he was known as the breathing man because he was able to help so many of his students regain the full use of their breathing mechanisms.

Could it be that asthmatics are particularly prone to constricting their nasal and throat passages when trying to take deep breaths? And could it be that this is caused by poor breathing habits, habits that may well have been learned in early childhood? If so, reeducation of the sort the Alexander Technique provides could make a huge difference in their lives.

A more complete account of the Johns Hopkins study can be found in an article titled Study Induces Asthma Symptoms, Pointing to a Failure to Relax by Warren Leary in the New York Times Health section, page B10, November 1, 1995. The quote from Alexander comes from an essay titles The Prevention and Cure of Consumption.

Robert Rickover is a teacher of the Alexander Technique living in Lincoln, Nebraska. He also teaches regularly in Toronto, Canada. Robert is the author of Fitness Without Stress - A Guide to the Alexander Technique and is the creator of The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique at http://www.alexandertechnique.com.

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Should Young People Exercise?

Most young people under the age of 20 tend to have higher metabolic rates and be more flexible and energetic than older individuals. However, they too need to practice age appropriate exercise in order to avoid becoming obese, stay fit and trim and build up their stamina and strength.

Today, many young people don't get enough exercise mainly because of the electronic alternatives that occupy much of their time. The growing or formative years are very important because they lay the foundations for what later become healthy or poor habits so it is essential to stress the importance of a good diet and exercise among children while they are growing up itself.

It is understandable that sometimes children can get easily bored with a set exercise routine designed for adults. However, it is not necessary for them to be involved in organized group sports only. Most youngsters equally enjoy a jog with an adult, or a game of tennis, swimming, golf, martial arts, bicycling, gymnastics among other interesting sports.

Adults should not give hypocritical or inconsistent advice to children as they are quite sensitive to it. Therefore, grown ups should be prepared to practice what they preach and exercise along with their children. By doing so they can not only ensure that their children are exercising in a safe and proper manner but it also helps them to spend quality time with their children and participate in activities that will benefit them both.

It is very important for both adults and children to warm up before trying out a vigorous work out as if its too painful initially the individual is less likely to continue. A few minutes of static and dynamic stretching really helps to avoid injury. Therefore, one should start with a simple routine and gradually build up ones strength over time.

Exercise routines should be tailored keeping in mind the child's age group.

For children between the ages of 4 to 7 it is important for them to focus on building basic developing skills such as coordination and balance. It is during these formative years that a child's eye hand coordination and motor skills are still fluid. Skipping, Hopscotch and other simple activities help guide the development of these skills and these are activities that children naturally have a fondness for.

For children around the ages of 8 or so, vigorous exercise is advised as it helps keep their metabolism active and prevents food from turning into fat. Here again adults need to guide children towards inculcating good exercise habits and avoid injury. However, weight training for pre teens is generally unnecessary and risky.

On the other hand gymnastics is ideal for children in this age group. It helps strengthen the basic motor skills learned earlier while developing balance and keeps the endocrine system healthy and active.

For teens the possibilities in exercise are endless as they possess the basic bone and muscle structure that enables them to participate in high performance activities. But here too care should be taken to ensure that they get the proper guidance that will help prevent injuries.

Most teens should be given an outlet to express their endless energy. Therefore, they should be encouraged towards achieving positive goals such as those of fitness, endurance and high scores.

Tired of reading outdated fitness and health articles on the web? Well, wait no longer, check out http://www.1-stop-fitness.com for up-to-date information on resuming exercise following surgery and physical fitness tips.

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