Karen
Age 41, chronic asthmatic

As a Physiotherapist Karen had taught breathing exercises, for asthma relief, for years. Yet they had little or no effect on her condition, which had been with her for 38 years. In her late teens and early twenties Karen was exceptionally sensitive to a variety of asthma triggers. Cigarette smoke, alcohol, animal fur and dust would all cause an attack. Her condition did not dramatically effect her life, but she was relying on ever increasing amounts of Ventolin to control it. To live a normal life she would take several puffs morning and night, and as she grew older, her asthma got worse.

In 1995 Karen's condition deteriorated considerably. She was prescribed preventative medication for the first time. Even with this she still had to use the reliever each day, and her asthma was getting worse not better.

Karen attended a Buteyko course in 1996. Now she has dramatically reduced her medication, and has a much better control over her asthma.

"If I do ten minutes of Buteyko exercises each day, I don't need any Ventolin. All the other breathing exercises that 1 learned and taught for years previously, the diaphragmatic and deep breathing now seem a complete waste of time. I wish more people were able to learn it, as I know how much help it provides in controlling asthma with minimum use of 'medication".