Читать книгу Asthma-Free Naturally: Everything you need to know about taking control of your asthma - Patrick McKeown - Страница 30

The level of carbon dioxide in the body determines the length of time the breath can be held: a higher level of carbon dioxide corresponds to a longer breath hold. The table above was developed by Professor Buteyko after he had measured the breath-holding ability of literally thousands of patients and matched it to their carbon dioxide levels. The figures are consistent and show the level of carbon dioxide based on the length of the control pause.

If the control pause is eight seconds, then there is a little less than four per cent carbon dioxide in the alveoli. If the control pause is fifteen seconds, the carbon dioxide is

between four and four-and-a-half per cent. The aim is to increase the level of carbon dioxide to at least five-and-a-half per cent giving a control pause of forty seconds.

With continuous practice of exercises, the respiratory centre will become accustomed to a higher concentration of carbon dioxide. Remember, it is the level of carbon dioxide that determines the need to breathe.