A small study by scientists in Australia has revealed that for asthmatics who regularly practise one of two breathing techniques, the use of inhalers to prevent and relieve shortness of breath dropped by more than 80 per cent.

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways — the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs — and can be set off by a variety of triggers, including animal hair, air pollutants, pollen, dust and exercise. It affects an estimated 5.2 million people in Britain. Most are categorised as mild asthmatics.

The researchers, from the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, compared the impact of two breathing techniques on symptoms, lung function, use of medication and quality of life among 57 adults with mild asthma.

One technique focused on shallow, nasal breathing with slow exhalations, and the second technique used general upper body exercises, accompanied by relaxation. The participants were randomly assigned one or other breathing technique. Use of medication fell by 86 per cent in both groups.

In an accompanying editorial, Mike Thomas, of the University of Aberdeen, said that the study suggested that such breathing techniques had an important role to play in asthma care.

Asthma UK welcomed the research and said that it supported earlier studies suggesting that such an approach may help.

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