In the study by Bonacin et al, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) resulted in an increase in dead space accompanied by an increase in an intrapulmonary venous shunt 1. This finding is important as there is an inverse correlation.between dead space and carbondioxide (CO_2) elimination from the respiratory system 2. Apart from pathological conditions the dead space can also increase in normal volunteers with changes in respiration. While there are several reports of increased lung capacity following the practice of yoga breathing techniques 3,4, there is a single study which reported the effect of yoga breathing on dead space. High frequency yoga breathing (HFYB) or Kapalabhati is a yoga breathing technique which is practiced by increasing the breath rate and forceful exhalation. In the earlier study which assessed the effect of HFYB on dead space 5, the breath rate during HFYB was 232 cycles/minute. The present study evaluated the change in alveolar dead space during and after HFYB practiced at the rate of 60 breaths/minute which is recommended when used as therapy 6.
展开▼
