Breathing exercise bad for asthma: Win Hoff

by | Apr 1, 2024 | Asthma | 0 comments

As far as controlling asthma is concerned, there are many exercise programs that individuals rely on. Wim Hof breathing method is a famous technique which has gained a lot of popularity lately. Despite this being highly popular, it might be a bad choice for those with asthma. This is “breathing exercise bad for asthma: Win Hoff.”

Win Hoff breathing
Win Hoff promotes deep rapid breathing in a cold environment


Wim Hof breathing technique entails rapid and deep breaths followed by periods of breath retention. This claims to create increased oxygen in the body and a feeling of well-being as well, but it in reality, this could cause asthmatic symptoms. Fast breathing or fluctuations in air temperature are among the triggers that can easily irritate or inflame an asthmatic individual’s hyperactive airways. Fast rapid breathing, especially through the mouth, makes you exhale the substances that your body needs to keep your airways open. This results in airway congestion and can exacerbate asthma.

Win Hoff may irritate airway
Breathing deeply can irritate the airways and trigger asthma

Such Wim Hof breathing method would be less useful than harmful to people suffering from asthma. It could even worsen your condition leading to difficulty in breathing. Due to these reasons, people with asthma should seek advice from their doctors before embarking on any new exercises without ensuring their safety and suitability for their kind of ailment. Aside from Win Hoff, do you know of another breathing exercise that is bad for asthma?

Instead of the Wim Hof breathing method, asthma sufferers may benefit more from gentle breathing exercises that focus on slow, controlled breathing. These exercises have been championed by a different breathing master – Dr. Konstantin Buteyko.

Dr. Konstantin Buteyko, being a medical doctor, has based his technique on scientifically proven physiology. He tested and tested his technique on asthma sufferers in a clinical setting.

Breathing Exercise

Dr. Buteyko’s Method focuses on making your breaths smaller and is quite to opposite of Win Hoff’s rapid deep breaths. The Buteyko Method can improve lung function, reduce anxiety, and improve asthma control. Asthma sufferers who have have applied the Buteyko Method can enjoy years of asthma-free days without the need of medications.

breathing exercise for asthma
The Buteyko Method has been featured in various books

If you want to have proven asthma control with medicine reduction, we recommend that you enroll in our BEAT ASTHMA masterclass. BEAT ASTHMA is the physician-developed masterclass for proven asthma control and medicine reduction. If you would like to learn more about the Dr. Buteyko and his work, you can read more about him in this link: https://buteykoclinic.com/about-dr-buteyko/

If you would like to control your asthma and reduce your medicine use, we recommend that you try out the BEAT ASTHMA masterclass:

Beat Asthma masterclass