Page 198 - Wasserstoff Medizin

breaths a day. At 25 breaths a minute, we are clipping along at 36,000 breaths a day,
which is a far cry above a normal rate.

Dr. Buteyko found that virtually all sick people (asthma, bronchitis, heart disease,
diabetes, cancer, etc.) have accelerated respiratory patterns. During rapid breathing
carbon dioxide becomes deficient, oxygen delivery to the cells is reduced, breath-holding
time is reduced, and the natural automatic pause is absent in each breath.

After thirty years of studying over 5,000 patients in what was called the Framingham
studies, doctors from the Boston University School of Medicine said they could predict
both long-term and short-term mortality based on peoples’ breathing capacity. Dr.
William Kannel said a person’s vital breathing capacity can, “Pick out people who are
going to die 10, 20 or 30 years from now.”

Al Lee and Don Campbell in their book Perfect Breathing say, “The impact of the breath
extends into every aspect of life and shows itself at the root of human function. Ancient
teachers, sages, yogis, and martial artists discovered its power and developed disciplines
around it with yoga and qigong and karate, among so many other practices. Understanding
the breath means understanding the human machine and how each breath can be used to
develop and control the body. Breathing forms the foundations of meditation,
contemplative thought and prayer, but it is also informing science and medicine, as
conscious breathing proves its mettle as a tool to fight stress, build up immunity to
disease, and heal the body in many ways. What is a perfect breath? Far from being some
noble yet unreachable goal that takes years of rigorous practice to master, a perfect breath
is any breath you take for which you are completely mindful and aware. In the space of
that one simple breath, great things can be accomplished. Perfect breathing is absolutely
attainable, and within easy reach. In fact, your very next breath can be a perfect breath.”

Warning: Depending on the severity and type of the condition, patients can worsen their
health if they go into intensive breathing sessions too aggressively. Some critically ill
patients can develop even higher blood pressure, panic attacks, and migraine headaches
from aggressive and rapid changes in breathing.

Diaphragmatic Breathing

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