ADDITIVE EFFECTS OF ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING WITH PHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT ON DYSPNEA AND CONTROL PAUSE IN PATIENTS WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i4.1877Keywords:
Alternate nostril breathing, Asthma, DyspnoeaAbstract
Background: Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation and constriction, leading to breathlessness and wheezing. This study aimed to compare the effects of Alternate Nostril Breathing (ANB) combined with pharmacological management versus pharmacological management alone on dyspnoea and control pause in patients with bronchial asthma. Methods: A non-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted at Foundation University College of Physical Therapy, Foundation University Islamabad, and Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi from February 2024 to January 2025. Thirty-two patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma were recruited after pulmonologist referral. Participants with Grades 0–4 on the Modified MRC Dyspnoea Scale were included. The control group received pharmacological management, whereas the interventional group performed ANB in addition to standard therapy for four weeks, with two supervised and five home sessions per week. Dyspnoea was assessed using the Dyspnoea-12 Questionnaire and control pause using a stopwatch. All measurements were taken at baseline and after four weeks. Data were analysed using SPSS-23. Results: Between-group analysis showed a statistically significant difference in dyspnoea and control pause, favouring the interventional group. Within-group analysis revealed significant improvement in both groups after four weeks, with greater gains in the interventional group. Conclusion: Incorporating Alternate Nostril Breathing alongside pharmacological management is more effective than medication alone for improving dyspnoea and control pause in patients with bronchial asthma.
Pak J Physiol 2025;21(4):7–10, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i4.1877
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Copyright (c) 2025 Bazkha Tariq Aslam Khawaja, Shakar Nazir, Alia Rehman, Sidra Khalid, Muhammad Usman Sajid, Muhammad Waseem, Amaidah Mir
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