Tim
Age 9 suffering with mild asthma

Tim was first diagnosed with Asthma when he was four years old; it gave him a persistent cough that kept him awake at night. His mother, Claire, gave him the prescribed Ventolin syrup, but was concerned when this seemed to make him hyperactive. Over the next few years Tim's asthma became more of a problem, and although he led a normal life, at times he seemed to lack energy.

Tim was on a dairy-free diet, and if he ate ice cream or cheese he would start coughing. He had also developed a sensitivity to cats, which would cause him to start wheezing. When Tim was 8 years old his doctor suggested he take the non-steroid preventative Intal, but after using this for several weeks there seemed to be no improvement in his condition.

Claire recalls, "Whereas Tim only had one or two serious asthma attacks during those years, he never seemed really well either, The asthma also made him really miserable when he caught a cold." Tim's doctor suggested using Vicrom, but again Tim's parents saw no change in his condition. Tim's dramatic coughing fits continued, so he was prescribed an inhaled steroid. However, the problem still remained and Claire was concerned about the side effects from steroids, but she knew Tim still needed something to control his condition.

About the time Tim started using steroids he enrolled in a Buteyko class. Tim's improvement was obvious in the first couple of days of the course. His asthma improved dramatically, so much so that his condition was almost non-existent. He could get up early on a frosty morning and play hockey, and though he would carry his puffer in case of emergencies, he no longer needed it.

Prior to the Buteyko course he would always use an inhaler during hockey practice. Tim is now almost asthma free. His asthma can still be a problem if he catches a cold or some other minor winter ailment. However, the amount of medication he needs at these times is minimal, he does not need preventives and he might only use 2-3 puffs of Ventolin in total.