Many people are aware of the numerous chronic ailments and symptoms that Buteyko’s approach reverses. But there’s one condition, perhaps one of the most insidious, that Professor Buteyko was particularly concerned about.
Brain vessels sclerosis.
The habitual deep breathing as indicated by a low control pause, inhibits the smooth and orderly functioning of the brain. This is brought about by a less than optimal level of CO2, due to habitual over breathing.
Focus, concentration and mental stamina - the synchronous synapsing of brain cells are amongst the first casualties, degrading the intellect.
At the same time the threshold of excitability of the nervous system is lowered producing sensations of anxiety, commonly known as “stress”.
To put it bluntly brain vessel sclerosis reduces intelligence and capability. It is a progenitor of unnecessary confusion and anxiety.
When Professor Buteyko made his discovery in the 1950’s and began measuring the breathing with his “Control Pause” ( a diagnostic breath holding manoeuvre) he was under the impression that the average CP was around 35 seconds and maybe a little higher amongst rural people.
In the 1990’s when I began working with his protege Alexander Stalmatski, the average CP seemed to be around 20 seconds.
An optimal CP, indicative of optimal healthy functioning is 60 seconds.
These days a CP of 10 to 15, once a rarity, is now common. This is indicative of a breathing pattern 6 to 4 times above the physiological optimum. Can you imagine eating for 4 people, or sleeping for 4 people or having a pulse or blood pressure 4 times above the physiological norm or optimum ?
Professor Buteyko claimed that when a society reaches an average CP of around 15 seconds, it will be so intellectually compromised that it will be unable to function. Basic tasks will too challenging for many. Mental stamina will be reduced, so comprehending complex situations will be reduced and reactive emotional responses will displace logical ones.
Thoughtfulness, clear perception and a practical mentality will be displaced by irritability, sensations of stress, anxiety and dissatisfaction. And because this most insidious aspect of over breathing affects brain function, what might be normally understood from a logical and objective perspective will often be subjective and thus go unrecognised.
Once again to put it bluntly, many people won’t apprehend their own intellectual decline, because of their intellectual decline. They will blame stress, other people’s behaviour and circumstances etc.
What to do ?
Improve your breathing.
Do it now, spread the word and make a contribution towards self regulated order and resist the tyrannical chaos of deep breathing and unnecessary suffering.
Warm regards,
Christopher
It's also now notably changing people's faces, impeding proper forward growth (photographed across three generations @ 36:30 in this lecture by Professor John Mew https://youtu.be/WhXPh5N5XN8?si=VJDoVgBk7oPWaxzC)
Thank you for this, it was very interesting.