I have asthma and was told to start playing a wind instrument to help me with breath control. Is there anyone who can tell me if this really works. I intend to play the whistle no matter what, but could use some information as breath control for those with asthma isn’t always that easy. Also, I live New Mexico, 50 miles north of the country of Mexico. Does anyone know about an organization within this state I could contact
Will you say more about yourself?
Where are you in relation to
Santa Fe? Are you further south?
I would think that playing whistle
would be helpful; also worthwhile
for it’s own sake. Do you play
other instruments? What music
do you like?
There are people in Taos who
play, but I don’t know
if you’re near that.
People on this board will
be glad to help you.
Are you young or old? etc.
Best
This was posted just a few weeks ago:
I went to my doctor for my 6-monthly appointment, since I have asthma. We did a peak flow reading, which I haven't done at home in probably over a month, and it had gone up by almost 100 points!!!!! For those who don't know, this is huge. She asked me if I'd started exercising or done something different, and I said, well, I started playing a wind instrument again after many years layoff. She said this could definitely do it. Now, my best readings haven't changed in years, so I can't say how pleased I am!
I thought I was going to blow the lid off the meter...
So, in addition to mental health benefits, there's this. Can't say enough good things about whistling!
Robin
Here’s the link if you would like to email the person who posted the message and/or read the rest of the posts in the string:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?topic=9716&forum=1
Best wishes,
Jerry
Hi, Mangus,
That was me…anyways, I couldn’t believe it, nobody ever told me it would have an effect like that; I just started playing for fun. I also posted a thread about standing up to play, when the wind just isn’t lasting as long as it should, to help the diaphragm drop down where it can work.
That link is:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?topic=9905&forum=1&6
Anyways, I’ve been playing about 30-60 minutes a day, for about 2 months, and my wind seems to have improved a lot since the first couple of weeks, as measured by how many bars I can play before breathing. I really think it works. Make sure to breathe from the diaphragm; words are failing me on this, so someone else might be able to explain it better. Also get some suggestions for low-wind whistles. I have a sweetone ans a Meg which seem to have pretty low requirements.
We’ll see what effect whistling has when “the season” gets here!
Glad to have you here!
Robin
For low air requirements, you want a Hoover high D, narrow bore. It truly is whisper quiet, and you have to do little more than think about breathing into it. And it has a gorgeous sound!
Tery
But you see, this individual
may get the most benefit
from higher air requirements.
I also have had asthma since childhood and was told to take up a wind instrument in hopes that it would help. In my opinion, it did, although how and why I can’t explain. I think it must have something to do with the back pressure against your airway as well as development of your respiratory muscles, diaphragm, etc. If my theory is true, you would want a whistle where you have to work at least a little bit. Good luck and have fun!
Amazing thread for me and very timely. I have been sick for 2 months with what my family doctor said was walking broncitis. Nothing was working and I was getting worse. Finally decided to go to a pullmonary specialist, who by the way plays the highland pipes. He said I had a severe asthmatic infection, not broncitis at all. Asked if his treatment would help my whistling and he said it actually does nothing for talent or skill level but for sure would help the asthma. Thanks for the info. I will play with gusto soon I hope. Fran
On 2003-02-20 22:51, jim stone wrote:
But you see, this individual
may get the most benefit
from higher air requirements.
I’ve got a couple old prototypes that resemble that description! 
Just ask Tyghress and JessieK - both still trying to catch their breath! 
serpent
And yoga. Great for easing asthma along with whistling.
I have some kind of mild asthma, that is mostly exercise induced, treated well now with Singulaire and occasional albuterol spray just prior to heavy exercise (martial arts class, e.g.) or playing. Generally, I don’t have problems with playing and found learning how to play easily on Overtons at one point really helpful because you get most reward when leaning into those from the diaphragm.
Playing for me has been easy and helpful in combination with other things - usual doctor prescribed medications, Yoga (including pranayama or breathing exercises), and lately strength training on the Bowflex which is seemingly increasing my all around stregnth and vigor. Oh, and thanks Bill (Serpent)for your early on recommendations re the Bowflex - it is as good as advertised, which is saying a lot these days.
There is also a book by the actor Paul Scorvino about natural asthma treatment (he and his children suffered with more pronounced asthma). The book is now out of print and I copied the relevant sections once from a copy I found somewhere. While I did not find that it worked for me completely it was helpful.
For me , I also find drinking a lot of water helps (reduces mucous buildup in the aereole sac linings), as it does for most things.
Of course, the bottom line is that for me it’s so enjoyable to play that it just increases my overall well-being.
Good luck and joy.
Philo
Serpent got to it first!!!
My brother has had asthma and severe allergies all of his life. He doesn’t play whistle (the bastard! ) but he used to work with a nifty little item his Dr. gave him in his teens. It had a little tiny fan of sorts, inside an angled airway… basically the harder you blew, the harder it got to blow through period.
Nowadays, he only keeps an inhaler with him for the very rare ‘just in case’, and his allergies have waned considerably. A simple allergy pill keeps him almost completely immune.
The already long story short… keep at it, and it will indeed improve.I’m certain it will be more fun with a whistle! 
Take care, best of luck, and Bright Blessings to ya’
John
I’ve worked for a group of board certified allergy/asthma specialists for over ten years and had never heard of this wind instrument recommendation, so I asked two of our physicians today if they’d heard of it. One said he had heard of it, but hadn’t ever recommended it to anyone as he had no evidence of it actually helping. The other doctor was openly skeptical and said that although it might help with breath control if you were to play a wind instrument when your asthma is in good control, it would be important to not play a lot when actually having an asthma exacerbation as it could actually make it worse (somewhat akin to jogging if you were having an asthma attack).
Susan
are you related to the bedonkohe people?with a name like that you could be a descendant from old perico, enjuh it’s a great name!
here’s my advice:
first of all, kick of your shoes or where shoes with no heels at all. set your feet shoulderwide and parrallel wth each other.bend a small bit through your legs and keep your shouders down
while you blow, pull in your lower belly, when you take a breath, relax your stomach and at the same time, relax your mouth so that air comes in.(this last thing can be done in less tham a second if you practice and be patient)
then find out wich keys you can blow the easyest, and only play them! i’m no where near asmatic, but can only play the high D, low G and low D,and i’m one with my whistles
long live the ndeh!
All I know is my dear O’Briain Improved works better than a peak flow meter, sounds better too…I started playing the whistle as an asthma remedy, and it’s good for your lungs, because it keeps a negative pressure up.
I’ve seen a very prominent allergist, and in his opinion, playing the flute is fabulous for asthma. The “pursed lip” breathing is often prescribed for people with asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It helps to expand the airways, and reduces the urge to cough.
Thanks for all the responses to my question about breath control when you have asthma. I feel much more encouraged than I did before. I did notice that one person mentioned that it’s amazing how many people have asthma. Actually, asthma has been a major health problem for years. The major cause of death during the Middle Ages was asthma. If this information is incorrect, blame the professor who told it to me when I was in college. Now, research indicates that many cases of Adult Onset Asthma is linked to second hand smoke.
Thanks again for your responses. Now, all I have to do is to decide on which whistle I should purchase.
I meant to post this before and forgot. I’m 54 and I live in Las Cruces, NM which is 43 miles north and west of El Paso, Texas. If I drive west to the nearest town, Deming, it’s 61 miles. If I go east, the nearest town is Alamogordo and that’s about 72 miles from here. If I go north, it’s 224 miles to Albuquerque and then you must drive 60 more miles to reach Santa Fe. Taos is about another 150 miles north of Santa Fe. If I’m incorrect, well that how it feels when you drive from Las Cruces to Taos.
Las Cruces is still basically an agriculturally based city. The only other jobs are at White Sands Missile Range and New Mexico State University. Daytime temperatures are already in the 60s and by the end of March the temperatures are in the 80’s or 90’s. As for winter sports, Las Cruces only has one. On the rare occassions when it snows, those of us who grew up in states where it snows frequently walk down to the nearest traffic light and watch the people who grew up here skid into each other. I love to sing and I play the guitar.
I have a B.A. in History and a Masters Degree in Librarianship and Information Management from the University of Denver. Before I was disabled, I worked as a librarian for a defense contractor and I well readily admit that I wish I could still work in that field.