The Buteyko Method was developed by Russian Dr Konstantin Buteyko, who recognised the negative health effects from breathing too much. Typical characteristics of overbreathing include mouth breathing, sighing, regular sniffing, audible breathing during rest, upper chest breathing and more. Several studies showed that individuals with asthma, rhinitis (blocked nose), snoring and sleep apnea breathe too much. In turn, these afflictions feed the condition. For example, the breathing of someone who snores is noisy, and the breathing of an asthmatic is noticeable.
The Buteyko Method is specifically aimed to unblock the nose, switch to nasal breathing permanently and normalise breathing volume. In others words, the method consists of breathing exercises and lifestyle guidelines designed to bring breathing volume to normal levels. This electronic version of the book, Close Your Mouth, by Patrick McKeown, includes videos of all Buteyko breathing exercises specifically designed to address asthma, snoring and sleep apnea.
