Pujya Gurudev Pt. ShriRam Sharma Acharya’s Kripa

Yoga can cure Asthma

(Akhand Jyoti,July-Aug.2010)

Asthma is a disease that causes immense discomfort and suffering. The patient suffers from difficulty in breathing, suffocation, coughing etc. because the respiratory tracks inside the lungs contract due to asthma. As the inhaled air passes through contracted tubes with increased velocity, sounds like whistle can be heard while breathing. This is called ‘wheezing’. The respiratory tubes get narrowed and obstructed because of excessive secretion of thick phlegm. A highly aggravated condition of asthma is called Statuts Asthmaticus. This can prove to be very severe and may even lead to death. 

Asthmatic attacks and Symptoms An asthmatic attack is a very traumatic and terrifying experience. Early symptoms of impending attack can be felt a few hours before the actual attack. In children, a slight whistle-like wheezing sound can be heard before the attack and indicative symptoms through a pattern of behavioral changes can be recognized. Some of these are – increased irritability, unexplained crying, withdrawal and quietness, introspective mood etc. Appearance of spots over the skin and swelling on face and lips are also some common symptoms. Most patients also develop signs of sudden attack of common cold and cough, like nose blockage, irritation, sneezing etc. 

During asthmatic attack the reduction in total airflow into lungs is felt by the patient and breathing becomes labored. This causes a lot of unease and discomfort. Phlegm begins to thicken and gets attached in large quantity, which causes severe coughing. Due to difficulty in breathing, the patient begins to exhale at a slower pace along with a whistling sound. As the severity of attack increases, the colour of mucous membranes begins to turn bluish due to lack of oxygen. The longer the time the patient struggles while breathing, that much more the attack appears to be prolonged, intense and painful. The escalation of this discomfort peaks up and then automatically weakens. This is an amazing psychological nature of this disease. 
Problems due to long-term (chronic) Asthma 

When the disease gets prolonged, several other complications also arise. The body becomes weak and thin. In children suffering from asthma physical deformities like permanent expansion of rib cage, drooped shoulders, hunch in the back etc. also begin to show up. Asthma can also lead to psychological problems. The patient becomes so completely dependent upon family members that he prefers to remain ill, because in that period he gets increased attention of all members. This makes him get entangled in the endless trap of disease and his capability to fight disease diminishes. (Countinue)

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma