"The Asthma Care approach made a significant difference to my breathing during sports performance and throughout my daily life. It is simple, makes sense and should be taught to all asthmatics."
- Frankie Sheahan, Munster and Ireland Rugby Union footballer

"I would have no hesitation in recommending the Asthma Care program for exercise induced asthma. I use it myself and the difference to my playing is considerable. This is something which should be taught to all players with asthma. Breathe through your nose and correct your breathing. Things can only get better. "
Damien Burke. Galway County footballer

"The Asthma Care approach has proven to me that with dedication anything is possible! It is unbelievable to think that the key to success is by breathing through your nose! Try it and reap the rewards."
Brian Carroll. Offaly County Hurler

"Where a fraction of a second makes a big difference, correct breathing is an area that we cannot ignore. While I am not asthmatic, I use the Asthma Care program and have found improved performance and health benefits overall. I think in time, all athletes will be considering this approach to retain their competitive edge."
Brian Maher. Kilkenny City Harriers

Both professional and amateur athletes attending the AsthmaCare program have experienced significant improvements to:

• Eliminating chest tightness and exercise induced asthma
• Improving performance
• Reducing and eliminating the need for asthma medication
• Reducing lactic acid
• Quicker recovery
• Increased energy
• Lowering resting pulse
• More stamina

Since 2001 Asthma Care has helped players from Dublin, Meath, Mayo and Galway county football teams, Ireland International Rugby squad, elite runners, triathlon competitors, boxers and amateur players from many clubs throughout the country.

Find out if you can benefit from our program using the control pause measurement;

You will need a watch or clock with a second hand.

1. Breathe in gently for two seconds.
2. Exhale gently for three seconds.
3. Hold your breath, pinching the nose after exhaling.
4. Hold your breath until you feel first urges to breathe in. Your first breath after the breath hold should be calm and silent.
5. Count the seconds that you held your breath for.

If your control pause is less than 10 seconds you should not be engaging in any sport because you have severe exercise induced asthma. If you can hold less than 20 seconds you experience exercise induced asthma and your breathing requires attention. A breath hold of 30- 40 seconds means that main symptoms are not present but they could be produced by a trigger. A breath hold of 40 seconds is good and 60 and above is excellent.

The Lower your control pause, the greater the room for progress. The higher your control pause, the greater your efficiency. Any person involved in sports, asthmatic or not with a low control pause can make improvements to their efficiency and sports performance by increasing their CP.

What is the significance of a low breath hold?

A low breath hold corresponds to a greater breathing volume. For example, a severe asthmatic who gets breathless with any exertion can have a comfortable breath hold of just five seconds. A very fit athlete who is not overbreathing should have a comfortable breath hold on the out breath of 40 seconds plus.

Our workshops teach breathing exercises to reduce the breathing volume to correct and healthy levels. This results in a greater breath hold time. As the breath hold increases, the ability to do exercise improves considerably. Once the comfortable breath hold is greater than twenty seconds, you will not experience exercise induced asthma while being observant of your breathing. The aim is to increase your breath hold to 40 seconds. In this instance exercise induced asthma will not be experienced at all.

Many factors increase breathing volume and athletes are no exception to this. These include processed food, sugar, glucose, overeating, high temperatures of houses, excessive talking (teacher etc), the belief that it is good to take big breath and of course stress.

Body Watch - Sports Psychology and Hypnosis at The Galway Clinic.

Dissertation by Gemma Cox and Colleagues from University of the West of England

Does nasal breathing affect exercise tolerance?