When Professor Buteyko discovered, in 1952, that hyperventilation was a major causative factor in the diseases of modern life, that included children.  Now 1 in 8 children have the label asthmatic and are the possessors of inhalers to control symptoms.

A question I am often asked is “why are young children diagnosed with asthma and what can cause a very young child to get asthma?

In the section on triggers I listed the most common triggers and how we can minimise their impact.  The same cause, hyperventilation, and the most common triggers apply to children as well.

By the time a mother holds her child in her arms he/she has been in existence for 9 months, hidden from our view, in the womb.  During that time they have not only been developing on a physical level but every aspect of development has been happening, physical, mental and emotional.  The templates for survival are being laid down.  Babies are born knowing how to suck a nipple or teat, how to seek out the face of their mother etc.  Has he/she been subjected to stress in the womb?  Is it possible this could have an effect on their early breathing habits? 

Even very tiny babies will be aware of and react to stress around them.  While we think that baby just eats, sleeps and soils his/her nappy, they have a brain which is growing at a phenomenal rate, and are capable of sensing stress.  As a midwife the secret to establishing successful breast  feeding was to get the Mum relaxed and only then would baby relax and feed.  Any tension and there was little success, showing that early in life they react to stress.  The answer I give to the above question is that children have the same reflexes as adults and can develop some of the same illnesses. 

Another big consideration with children is the fact that they learn by example, so if a parent or guardian has bad breathing behaviour it is likely the child will too.

Asthma if the most common chronic childhood disease, I in 8 children having the diagnosis.  In some areas that figure reads 1 in 3.  Clearly there is a big problem here.

Factors, which contribute to asthma in children, include

•  Stress
•  Mouth Berating
•  Lack of physical exercise
•  Overeating and eating ‘junk’ food
•  Being in over warm environments

Hyperventilation will cause just as much havoc in the life of a child as it will on an adult, maybe more so, as their developing years are a time of learning and gaining new information and experiences.  Tiredness, lack of concentration, disturbed sleep and poor problem solving skills will, probably, disrupt that development and hamper the child reaching his/her potential in the academic world.  Asthma can also interfere with the child’s ability and willingness to participate in physical sports and activities, closing the door to a wonderful world of adventure and enjoyment in childhood and later life.

The traditional treatment given is the use of bronchodilator drugs and steroid medication, in inhaler form.  While the drugs give relief it has been shown that the longterm use of these drugs is not desirable nor healthy.

How can a Buteyko Course help?
 

• 1) Children as young as 4 years are able to learn and understand the 
• simple exercises, devised especially for young children.
• 2) They learn to unblock the nose and the importance of  nose breathing all the time.
• 3) Children and parents/guardians are taught correct diet, correct sleeping position and correct breathing behaviour during exercise.
• 4) They are also taught how to incorporate the changes into the childs life and make the experience a happy one and something the child will enjoy.
• 5) How to assess the condition of the child and any signs of deterioration before a major event occurs and how to divert and stop an asthma attack.
• 6) How to control fits of coughing.
• 7) The child is given responsibility for maintaining his/her own records, under the supervision of the parent/gurardian, giving a sense of ownership to their own recovery.

As pointed out above a child’s brain is developing and growing at a very rapid rate and it is during childhood that many life lessons are learned and behaviours entrenched.  It is easier to learn when young, in this time of development.

Increased blood supply to the brain at this vital time will make it easier for them to learn, and the increased level of concentration, improved memory ability and improved problem solving skills will make a big difference to all aspects of life for the child.  What happens now will have a huge impact on their adult life.

The clinical trials carried out have shown that improved quality of life, decrease in symptoms and reduced medication use, are valid claims.  That has to be a huge contribution to the welfare and potential of that young life.