Each year, World Asthma Day falls on the first Tuesday of May as a means of raising awareness regarding asthma, enhancing care worldwide, and assisting those living with the condition. This year, on May 6, 2025, the theme still focuses on empowering patients and self-management. Hosted by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), the day is a call to action to recognize asthma as a controllable condition, even though it is chronic, if a balance of medication, life changes, and breathing exercises is found.
Although inhalers and drugs are still central to the treatment of asthma, there is increasing evidence and expert opinion that endorses the use of non-pharmacological interventions—particularly breathing exercises—to enhance symptoms and quality of life.
Why Breathing Exercises Are Important in the Management of Asthma
Asthma is a condition characterized by inflamed, narrowed airways that produce wheezing, coughing, breathlessness, and tightness in the chest. Breathing can become shallow and rapid during an attack of asthma—a less efficient way of breathing that typically aggravates the condition. Such behavior leaves many patients anxious and helpless, exacerbating their symptoms further.
Breathing exercises offer a natural, low-cost way to:
Slow down the rate of breathing.
Improve lung oxygen exchange.
Increase lung capacity.
Relieve anxiety and stress.
Regain control over breathing function.
Loosen congested mucus in airways.
Used regularly and correctly, these methods have been proven to minimize the severity and frequency of asthma attacks, lower reliance on medication during small attacks, and enhance overall respiratory well-being.
In this, we discuss four highly recommended breathing exercises that have been proven to effectively treat asthma.
1. Pursed-Lip Breathing
This technique avoids airway collapse upon exhaling by maintaining the lungs in positive pressure. It promotes slow, controlled breathing and is especially helpful during times of breathlessness.
How to do it:
Sit or lie down comfortably.
Breathe in slowly through your nose for 2 seconds.
Purse your lips, as if you are about to blow out a candle.
Breathe out slowly through pursed lips for 4 seconds or longer.
Do it for a few minutes until your breathing is more relaxed.
This exercise comes in handy when there is physical activity or an asthma attack to re-establish control over breathing.
2. Diaphragmatic (Belly) Breathing
It is also referred to as abdominal breathing since it targets the diaphragm over the chest. It helps to strengthen the diaphragm and make breathing more efficient.
How to do it:
Lie down or sit comfortably.
Put one hand on your chest and one hand on your belly.
Breathe in slowly through your nose, letting your belly (not your chest) rise.
Breathe out slowly through pursed lips and let your belly fall.
Do it for 5 to 10 minutes a day.
Regular practice of diaphragmatic breathing reduces inefficient shallow chest breathing and leads to a more relaxed, balanced respiratory rhythm.
3. Buteyko Breathing Technique
This technique was developed by Ukrainian physician Konstantin Buteyko and is founded on controlled shallow nasal breathing. It tries to decrease hyperventilation—prevalent among asthma patients—and bring breathing back to normal.
How to do it:
Sit comfortably in an upright position in a quiet area.
Breathe in gently through your nose and breathe out slowly.
After breathing out, pinch your nose and hold your breath.
Hold your breath until you experience a moderate need to breathe.
Release and continue gentle nasal breathing.
Repeat several cycles, preferably under the supervision of a professional at first.
Buteyko breathing has been shown to enhance CO₂ tolerance, which can decrease asthma sensitivity and symptoms over time.
4. Yoga Pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
A classic in yoga practice, pranayama encourages nervous system balance, stress reduction, and mindful, deeper breathing. A favorite technique is Nadi Shodhana, or alternate nostril breathing.
Do it like this:
Sit with your back straight.
Close your right nostril with your thumb and breathe in through your left nostril.
Close your left nostril with your ring finger, open your right nostril, and breathe out.
Breathe in through the right nostril, close it, and breathe out through the left.
Repeat alternate breathing for 5 to 10 minutes.
Apart from assisting in asthma control, pranayama also serves to alleviate stress-induced asthma triggers.
Final Thoughts
Although breathing exercises are no substitute for prescribed asthma medication, they make a potent complementary approach. As an integral part of your daily routine, they can greatly enhance your respiratory muscle strength, mental acuity, and feeling of control over your breathing.
Always consult with a respiratory therapist, yoga teacher, or healthcare provider before initiating any new breathing regimen—particularly if you have moderate to severe asthma. Adapting the appropriate set of exercises to your needs can maximize safety and guarantee long-term benefits.
