Yoga As An Aid in Battling Pollution and COPD
Teachers of yoga come across many people who rely on this system for much more than enhanced strength and flexibility. Yoga is currently part of therapy programmes for various conditions, including stress, anxiety, depression, breast cancer recovery following radiotherapy, prostate cancer recovery, and more. Recently, it has also been shown to improve lung function for those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a condition caused by exposure to pollutants that cause inflammation, the destruction of tissue, and a narrowing of the airways. In this post, we look into how yoga can help those battling COPD.
How Prevalent is COPD in Australia?
One in seven Australians aged over 40 have airflow limitation of their lungs and COPD affects over 29% of Australians aged 75 or over. The disease is the second leading cause of avoidable hospital admissions and continues to be a leading cause of death (after heart disease, stroke, and cancer).
Risk factors for the disease include cigarette smoking, passive smoking, and exposure to both indoor and outdoor pollution and occupational particles and chemicals. Often, citizens are aware of the dangers of outdoor pollution, but are less knowledgeable regarding the effects of indoor air quality on health. Household cleaners, strong paints, personal care products in spray form, and pesticides are just a few toxins that can cause everything from irritated sinus passageways to dizziness, and, in the case of chronic exposure, the development of COPD.
How Can Yoga Help in the Fight against COPD?
Anyone who is affected by COPD should take immediate aims to reduce exposure to toxins, reduce the reliance on harsh chemical products, and place HEPA filters in their homes to improve indoor air quality. Yoga can also help, as per a study published in the International Journal of Yoga (R Soni et. al.).
The authors begin by acknowledging the established role played by yoga in reducing the high rates of depression and anxiety associated with COPD. However, the study’s aim is more specific: to see the extent to which yoga can increase the diffusing capacity of lungs (i.e. the ability of the lungs to transfer oxygen and carbon dioxide efficiently).
The study showed that regular practice of yoga did indeed improve lung function and general quality of life in patients with COPD. Through pranayamic breathing techniques, more oxygen is available to tissues, and muscles throughout the body are able to work more efficiently.
Breathing and stretching also increased respiratory stamina, expanded the lungs, raised energy levels, and calmed the body.
Yoga improves blood circulation, thus increasing the strength of respiratory muscles. Because it involves ‘vertical breathing’, the alveoli (the tiny sacs within lungs that allow oxygen and carbon dioxide to move between the lungs and bloodstream) expand, and there is a larger surface available for the expansion of gases.
In the study, yoga teachers used four pranayamic breathing exercises (Bhastrika for five minutes, Anulom vilom for 15 minutes, Kapalbhati for 10 minutes, and Bhramari five times) and five asanas (Surya Namaskar, Tadasana, Sukhasana, Paschimotanasana, and Shavasana for a total of 10 to 20 minutes).
Yoga can aid those facing COPD through its powerful effects on the mind and body. This millenary system can reduce stress and depression, but also expand the alveoli, thus providing significant relief and promoting better lung function.
A special thank you to Jane Garden for her eye-opening writing on the associated health risks of poor air quality and how Yoga can be used to remedy chronic respiratory problems.
