Effect of yoga on bronchial asthma

Abstract

Introduction-Asthma is a disease affecting the lungs causing airway obstruction, dyspnoea and cough with restlessness. Patients use multiple medications to control their symptoms but still, they are not relieved. Yoga has been used as a complementary therapy but many people fail to use it because of difficulty in performing it. This study was done with the aim to use four simple yoga exercises to find if any reduction in symptoms and benefits to the patients. Material & Method- 80 asthmatic patients were selected and placed randomly into two groups, the Case Group and Control group, with 40 subjects in each. The baseline Pulmonary Function Tests(PFT) parameters like Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second(FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity(FVC), FEV1/FVC and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate(PEFR) are measured in both the groups. Also, the Absolute Eosinophil Count(AEC) was measured in all participants. The number of patients suffering from acute exacerbation was counted and noted in each group. Then the Case Group participants were asked to perform Yoga for 4 months under the supervision of a Yoga Instructor. The Control Group was asked to take medicine as before and report after 4 months.