From Anxiety to Asthma – Why Functional Breathing Should Be Your First Line of Treatment

From the rhythm of the Tagus River to the fast pace of crowded city streets, life in Lisbon can be invigorating—but also overwhelming. The constant buzz of urban living often takes a toll on both mind and body, contributing to anxiety, shallow breathing, and even respiratory issues like asthma.

At our tranquil space in Parque das Nações, we offer a science-backed, practical approach to managing these challenges using the Buteyko Method—a breathing technique that’s simple, effective, and accessible to anyone.

Anxiety & Panic Relief Through Breath Re-Education

Stress and anxiety often go hand in hand with dysfunctional breathing. Rapid, shallow, or excessive breathing can lower carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the blood, triggering symptoms such as dizziness, chest tightness, and a racing heart—hallmarks of anxiety and panic attacks.

The Buteyko Method helps break this vicious cycle. By gently slowing and calming your breath, it helps rebalance CO₂ levels and communicates safety to your nervous system. This promotes a calmer, more grounded mental state and greater emotional resilience in everyday life.

Asthma Improvements Backed by History and Science

Developed in the 1950s by Dr. Konstantin Buteyko, a Ukrainian physician working in Soviet-era Moscow, this method was originally created to help asthma patients reduce symptoms without solely relying on medication. Over the decades, it has gained international recognition for its remarkable impact on respiratory health.

Buteyko breathing reduces bronchospasm, helps keep the airways open, and can lead to:

• Fewer asthma attacks

• Less wheezing and chest tightness

• Reduced reliance on bronchodilators and corticosteroids

• Improved day-to-day breathing ease and comfort

Breathe Better—Day or Night

One of the unique advantages of breath retraining is that it doesn’t just impact your waking hours. By improving daytime breathing patterns, the method also helps regulate nighttime breathing, leading to deeper, more restorative sleep.

Users often report:

• Reduction in snoring

• Fewer sleep disruptions

• Improved symptoms of sleep apnoea

• A general sense of waking up refreshed and clear-headed

This is especially valuable for anyone experiencing fatigue, brain fog, or irritability due to poor sleep.

Solid Clinical Evidence

Numerous clinical trials have validated the effectiveness of the Buteyko Method, particularly for asthma. Findings consistently show:

• Significant reductions in the need for rescue inhalers

• Decreased frequency and intensity of asthma symptoms

• Improved lung function and overall respiratory efficiency

Additionally, breathwork is now being studied as a valuable complement to mental health treatment, supporting emotional regulation, focus, and resilience.

Whether you’re looking to manage anxiety, improve asthma, or simply breathe more freely and deeply, functional breathing is a natural first step. It costs nothing to learn, carries no side effects, and offers benefits that can last a lifetime.