Dysfunctional Breathing in Children and Adults With Asthma

Asthma occurs across the life course. Its optimal treatment includes the use of personalized management plans that recognize the importance of co-morbidities including so-called “dysfunctional breathing.” Such symptoms can arise as a result of induced laryngeal obstruction (ILO) or alterations in th...

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Main Authors: Gary J. Connett, Mike Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fped.2018.00406/full
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author Gary J. Connett
Mike Thomas
author_facet Gary J. Connett
Mike Thomas
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description Asthma occurs across the life course. Its optimal treatment includes the use of personalized management plans that recognize the importance of co-morbidities including so-called “dysfunctional breathing.” Such symptoms can arise as a result of induced laryngeal obstruction (ILO) or alterations in the mechanics of normal breathing called breathing pattern disorders. Whilst these two types of breathing abnormalities might be related, studies tend to focus on only one of them and do not consider their relationship. Evidence for these problems amongst childhood asthmatics is largely anecdotal. They seem rare in early childhood. Both types are more frequently recognized in the second decade of life and girls are affected more often. These observations tantalizingly parallel epidemiological studies characterizing the increasing prevalence and severity of asthma that also occurs amongst females after puberty. Exercise ILO is more common amongst adolescents and young adults. It should be properly delineated as it might be causally related to specific treatable factors. More severe ILO occurring at rest and breathing pattern disorders are more likely to be occurring within a psychological paradigm. Dysfunctional breathing is associated with asthma morbidity through a number of potential mechanisms. These include anxiety induced breathing pattern disorders and the enhanced perception of subsequent symptoms, cooling and drying of the airways from hyperventilation induced hyperresponsiveness and a direct effect of emotional stimuli on airways constriction via cholinergic pathways. Hyperventilation is the most common breathing pattern disorder amongst adults. Although not validated for use in asthma, the Nijmegen questionnaire has been used to characterize this problem. Studies show higher scores amongst women, those with poorly controlled asthma and those with psychiatric problems. Evidence that treatment with breathing retraining techniques is effective in a primary care population including all types of asthmatics suggests the problem might be more ubiquitous than just these high-risk groups. Future challenges include the need for studies characterizing all types of dysfunctional breathing in pediatric and adult patient cohorts and clearly defined, age appropriate, interventional studies. Clinicians caring for asthmatics in all age groups need to be aware of these co-morbidities and routinely ask about symptoms that suggest these problems.
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spelling doaj.art-639f80fb330e4b66bff382f4e8605a912022-12-22T03:07:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602018-12-01610.3389/fped.2018.00406424767Dysfunctional Breathing in Children and Adults With AsthmaGary J. ConnettMike ThomasAsthma occurs across the life course. Its optimal treatment includes the use of personalized management plans that recognize the importance of co-morbidities including so-called “dysfunctional breathing.” Such symptoms can arise as a result of induced laryngeal obstruction (ILO) or alterations in the mechanics of normal breathing called breathing pattern disorders. Whilst these two types of breathing abnormalities might be related, studies tend to focus on only one of them and do not consider their relationship. Evidence for these problems amongst childhood asthmatics is largely anecdotal. They seem rare in early childhood. Both types are more frequently recognized in the second decade of life and girls are affected more often. These observations tantalizingly parallel epidemiological studies characterizing the increasing prevalence and severity of asthma that also occurs amongst females after puberty. Exercise ILO is more common amongst adolescents and young adults. It should be properly delineated as it might be causally related to specific treatable factors. More severe ILO occurring at rest and breathing pattern disorders are more likely to be occurring within a psychological paradigm. Dysfunctional breathing is associated with asthma morbidity through a number of potential mechanisms. These include anxiety induced breathing pattern disorders and the enhanced perception of subsequent symptoms, cooling and drying of the airways from hyperventilation induced hyperresponsiveness and a direct effect of emotional stimuli on airways constriction via cholinergic pathways. Hyperventilation is the most common breathing pattern disorder amongst adults. Although not validated for use in asthma, the Nijmegen questionnaire has been used to characterize this problem. Studies show higher scores amongst women, those with poorly controlled asthma and those with psychiatric problems. Evidence that treatment with breathing retraining techniques is effective in a primary care population including all types of asthmatics suggests the problem might be more ubiquitous than just these high-risk groups. Future challenges include the need for studies characterizing all types of dysfunctional breathing in pediatric and adult patient cohorts and clearly defined, age appropriate, interventional studies. Clinicians caring for asthmatics in all age groups need to be aware of these co-morbidities and routinely ask about symptoms that suggest these problems.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fped.2018.00406/fullasthmadysfunctioal breathingparadoxical vocal fold motionhyperventilationbreathing pattern disordersinducible laryngeal obstruction
spellingShingle Gary J. Connett
Mike Thomas
Dysfunctional Breathing in Children and Adults With Asthma
Frontiers in Pediatrics
asthma
dysfunctioal breathing
paradoxical vocal fold motion
hyperventilation
breathing pattern disorders
inducible laryngeal obstruction
title Dysfunctional Breathing in Children and Adults With Asthma
title_full Dysfunctional Breathing in Children and Adults With Asthma
title_fullStr Dysfunctional Breathing in Children and Adults With Asthma
title_full_unstemmed Dysfunctional Breathing in Children and Adults With Asthma
title_short Dysfunctional Breathing in Children and Adults With Asthma
title_sort dysfunctional breathing in children and adults with asthma
topic asthma
dysfunctioal breathing
paradoxical vocal fold motion
hyperventilation
breathing pattern disorders
inducible laryngeal obstruction
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fped.2018.00406/full
work_keys_str_mv AT garyjconnett dysfunctionalbreathinginchildrenandadultswithasthma
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