Resonant breathing improves self-reported symptoms and wellbeing in people with Long COVID 2024 Putrino et al

Introduction: Long COVID involves debilitating symptoms, many of which mirror those observed with dysautonomia, and care must be taken with rehabilitation for autonomic dysfunction to avoid post-exertional malaise/post-exertional symptom exacerbation. Resonant breathing (breathing slowly at a defined rate of breaths per minute) requires less exertion and can potentially improve autonomic function. The objective of this work was to report on the impact of a resonant breathing program on self-reported symptoms and wellbeing in people with Long COVID.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of de-identified data was completed in a convenience sample of people with Long COVID, who participated in the Meo Health (formerly known as Stasis HP) resonant breathing program. Participants completed baseline and follow up surveys.

Results: Data were available for 99 participants. Most measures of symptoms and wellbeing improved at follow up, with the largest differences per participant seen in sense of wellness (47.3%, p < 0.0001), ability to focus (57.5%, p < 0.0001), ability to breathe (47.5%, p < 0.0001), ability to control stress (61.8%, p < 0.0001) and sleep quality (34.9%, p = 0.0002). Most (92%) participants reported improvement at follow up on the Patient Global Impression of Change Scale.

Conclusion: Self-reported symptoms and wellbeing improved in people with Long COVID completing resonant breathing. Resonant breathing can be considered as an option within the broader treatment plan of people with Long COVID.

Open access, https://www.frontiersin.org/journal...nces/articles/10.3389/fresc.2024.1411344/full

 

I fear research like this can send the wrong message. Take some deep breaths, calm yourselves - and you'll feel better?

Even if it has a transitory effect, it may well just be transitory.

Whatever is causing the problem in the first place - as far as I can see - is not being resolved.

Meanwhile the takeaway message may be doing more harm than good.

 

No control condition...

 

The physiotherapist at my LC clinic suggested I try this technique. I found it really difficult and unpleasant: almost immediately I would feel lightheaded and see stars, then would come a point where I'd automatically have to take big gulping breaths until I felt relatively normal again. I told the physio all this and he agreed I should stop trying. This study only uses data from participants who completed a course so anyone who had the same experience as me wouldn't be included.

 

Slow breathing was also recommended by Dr Paul Cheney.

His working hypothesis was that it increases the CO2 content of the blood lowering pH, which paradoxically favours oxygen desaturation at the tissues meaning you get more oxygen transferrance the more CO2 is present. (Same idea as breathing into a bag to treat hyperventilation.)

He thought this applied to PWME particularly because he measured they had impaired oxygen desaturation and he considered their blood was showing signs of alkalosis though he considered this was compensatory due to cellular acidosis resulting from atypical metabolic processes.

Just saying it has popped up before, no biggie.

 

Sure, I would'nt claim Resonant breathing could help anyone improve from his condition but it is definitively a great way for me to aleviate the nauseous feelings of a pem crash, and even provide brief but very pleasant relief on "normal" days. It's part of my daily routine for the last 5 years (2 × 15 mn), with down to 1 breath/min at the end of exercise, and I would recommend every me/cfs sufferer to at least give it a serious try.