6 Breathing Exercises for Severe Asthma Health ConditionsFeaturedBreast CancerIBD MigraineMultiple Sclerosis (MS)Rheumatoid ArthritisType 2 DiabetesSponsored TopicsArticlesAcid RefluxADHDAllergiesAlzheimer's & DementiaBipolar DisorderCancerCrohn's DiseaseChronic PainCold & FluCOPDDepressionFibromyalgiaHeart DiseaseHigh CholesterolHIVHypertensionIPFOsteoarthritisPsoriasisSkin Disorders and CareSTDsDiscoverWellness TopicsNutritionFitnessSkin CareSexual HealthWomen's HealthMental HealthSleepOriginal SeriesFresh Food FastDiagnosis DiariesYou’re Not AlonePresent TenseVideo SeriesYouth in FocusHealthy HarvestNo More SilenceFuture of HealthPlanHealth ChallengesMindful EatingSugar SavvyMove Your BodyGut HealthMood FoodsAlign Your SpineFind CarePrimary CareMental HealthOB-GYNDermatologistsNeurologistsCardiologistsOrthopedistsLifestyle QuizzesWeight ManagementAm I Depressed? A Quiz for TeensAre You a Workaholic?How Well Do You Sleep?Tools & ResourcesHealth NewsFind a DietFind Healthy SnacksDrugs A-ZHealth A-ZConnectFind Your Bezzy CommunityBreast CancerInflammatory Bowel DiseasePsoriatic ArthritisMigraineMultiple SclerosisPsoriasisFollow us on social mediaShopProducts by ConditionInsomniaStress ReliefBack PainNeck PainSleep ApneaHot SleepersAllergiesPain ReliefProduct ReviewsVitamins & SupplementsSleepMental HealthNutritionAt-Home TestingCBDMen’s HealthWomen’s HealthHealth ConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShopSubscribe

Breathing Exercises for Severe Asthma

Medically reviewed by Adithya Cattamanchi, M.D., Pulmonology — By Stephanie Watson on September 21, 2022Breathing is something most people take for granted — except for those with severe asthma. Asthma narrows the airways in your lungs to the point where it can be hard to catch your breath. Medications like inhaled corticosteroids and beta-agonists open up your airways to help you breathe easier. Yet for some people with severe asthma, these drugs might not be enough to control symptoms. If you’re looking for something to supplement your drug treatment, you might want to try breathing exercises. Until recently, doctors didn’t recommend breathing exercises for asthma simply because there wasn’t enough evidence to show that they work. Yet more recent studies suggest these exercises might help improve your breathing and quality of life. Based on current evidence, breathing exercises may have value as an add-on therapy to medication and other standard asthma treatments. Here are six different breathing exercises for asthma. Some of these techniques are more effective than others at relieving asthma symptoms.

1 Diaphragmatic breathing

The diaphragm is the dome-shaped muscle below your lungs that helps you breathe. In diaphragmatic breathing, you learn how to breathe from the region around your diaphragm, rather than from your chest. This technique helps to strengthen your diaphragm, slow your breathing, and decrease your body’s oxygen needs. Share on PinterestIllustration by Brittany EnglandTo practice diaphragmatic breathing:Lie on your back with your knees bent and a pillow under your knees, or sit up straight in a chair. Place one hand flat on your upper chest and the other hand on your stomach. Breathe in slowly through your nose. The hand on your stomach should move, while the one on your chest remains still. Breathe out slowly through pursed lips. Keep practicing this technique until you’re able to breathe in and out without your chest moving.

2 Nasal breathing

Some studies have linked mouth breathing with more severe asthma symptoms. The advantage to breathing through your nose is that it adds warmth and humidity to the air, which can help reduce asthma symptoms.Share on PinterestIllustration by Brittany England

3 The Papworth method

The Papworth method has been around since the 1960s. It combines several different types of breathing with relaxation training techniques. It teaches you how to breathe slowly and steadily from your diaphragm and through your nose. Share on PinterestIllustration by Brittany England You also learn how to control stress so it doesn’t affect your breathing. Research has found that this technique helps ease breathing symptoms and improve quality of life in people with asthma.

4 Buteyko breathing

Buteyko breathing is named after its creator, Konstantin Buteyko, a Ukrainian doctor who developed the technique during the 1950s. The idea behind it is that people tend to hyperventilate — to breathe faster and more deeply than necessary. Rapid breathing can increase symptoms like shortness of breath in people with asthma.Share on PinterestIllustration by Brittany England Buteyko breathing uses a series of exercises to teach you how to breathe slower and deeper. Studies evaluating its effectiveness have shown mixed results. Buteyko may improve asthma symptoms and reduce the need for medication, though it doesn’t seem to improve lung function.

5 Pursed lip breathing

Pursed lip breathing is a technique used to relieve shortness of breath. To practice it, you first breathe in slowly through your nose with your mouth closed. Then, you purse your lips as if you were about to whistle. Finally, you breathe out through your pursed lips to a count of four. Share on PinterestIllustration by Brittany England

6 Yoga breathing

Yoga is an exercise program that combines movement with deep breathing. A few small studies have found that using the same type of controlled deep breathing as in yoga may help improve asthma symptoms and lung function.Share on PinterestIllustration by Brittany England

Should you try breathing exercises

Learning these breathing exercises and practicing them regularly may help you gain more control over your asthma symptoms. They might also allow you to cut down on your use of asthma medication. Yet even the most effective breathing exercises can’t replace your asthma treatment entirely. Talk with your doctor before trying any of these breathing exercises to make sure they’re safe for you. Ask your doctor to recommend a respiratory therapist who can teach you how to do these exercises safely and effectively. Last medically reviewed on September 21, 2022

How we vetted this article

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Asthma Foundation. (2010). What is Buteyko?
s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/assets.asthmafoundation.org.nz/documents/What-Is-Buteyko-Fact-Sheet.pdfCooper S, et al. (2003). Effect of two breathing exercises (Buteyko and pranayama) in asthma: A randomised controlled trial.
thorax.bmj.com/content/58/8/674?ijkey=26568390c045a6ab7d28ee9a5046583404132d53&keytype2=tf_ipsecshaCowie RL, et al. (2008). A randomised controlled trial of the Buteyko technique as an adjunct to conventional management of asthma.
resmedjournal.com/article/S0954-6111(07)00511-2/fulltextFreitas DA, et al. (2013). Breathing exercises for adults with asthma [Abstract].
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24085551/Holloway EA, et al. (2007). Integrated breathing and relaxation training (the Papworth method) for adults with asthma in primary care: A randomised controlled trial.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2094294/Laurino RA, et al. (2012). Respiratory rehabilitation: A physiotherapy approach to the control of asthma symptoms and anxiety.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3488988/Manocha R, et al. (2002). Sahaja yoga in the management of moderate to severe asthma: A randomised controlled trial.
thorax.bmj.com/content/57/2/110?ijkey=6f28df6ebe739bd7aed74f6846b1eb6f9c4e6c9a&keytype2=tf_ipsecshaThomas M, et al. (2014). Breathing exercises for asthma.
breathe.ersjournals.com/content/10/4/312Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Sep 21, 2022 By Stephanie Watson Edited By Britt Gambino Medically Reviewed By Adithya Cattamanchi, MD Copy Edited By Stassi Myer - CE Oct 18, 2019 By Stephanie Watson Edited By Frank Crooks VIEW ALL HISTORY Share this articleMedically reviewed by Adithya Cattamanchi, M.D., Pulmonology — By Stephanie Watson on September 21, 2022

Read this next

How to Prevent Asthma AttacksMedically reviewed by Graham Rogers, M.D. Learn how to prevent asthma attacks.READ MOREHow to Get Your Asthma Under ControlMedically reviewed by Adithya Cattamanchi, M.D. For immediate, short-term relief of asthma symptoms, there are several treatments you can use, including bronchodilators and over-the-counter (OTC)…READ MOREWhat to Do if You Have an Asthma Attack But Don’t Have an InhalerMedically reviewed by Adithya Cattamanchi, M.D. If you have an asthma attack and your rescue inhaler isn’t available, there are some ways to ease the symptoms until you’re able to get your inhaler…READ MOREEverything You Need to Know About Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) for AsthmaMedically reviewed by Marc Meth, MD, FACAAI, FAAAI Learn about new biologic treatments that help treat severe asthma or work as an add-on therapy to current treatment.READ MOREWhat Is Clenbuterol? Clenbuterol isn’t approved for use in the United States but is used in other countries to treat asthma. People use it for livestock and horses. It’s…READ MOREWhat to Expect from an Exercise-Induced Asthma Test If you suspect you have exercise-induced asthma, you'll need to visit a medical professional to be tested. Here's what to expect before, during, and…READ MOREThe Pros and Cons of Dry Powder Inhalers and How to Use Them Correctly Your doctor may prescribe a dry powder inhaler to help relieve symptoms of asthma or COPD. Here's how they work and how to use them correctly.READ MOREHow ‘Veep’ Star Tony Hale Is Helping Others with Asthma Breathe Easier The Emmy-winning actor shares how living with asthma helped him play the beloved characters he’s famous for, and why he wants others living with the…READ MOREWhen to Consider Using a Wheelchair for Severe Asthma While they're not commonly used for asthma, wheelchairs can help people with severe symptoms get around easier.READ MORE