Asthma is a chronic, incurable disease. It causes several symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, which hampers daily activities. However, the greatest risk is that of an asthma attack, which can be fatal. In fact, it causes an estimated 250,000 deaths annual deaths worldwide.

Asthma treatments focus on alleviating asthma symptoms and reducing risks of an asthma attack. Common treatment involve preventive care, such as taking a high-selenium diet, reducing exposure to allergens and not smoking around children or during pregnancy. Yet another type of treatment which has become popular of late is hypnosis, also known as hypnotherapy.

Howe does hypnosis work? It relaxes a patient with asthma. According to recent research, negative emotions, such as fear and gloominess, can damage the respiratory tracts, which in turn can cause an asthma attack or make an existing attack more serious. These negative emotions, especially fear, are especially common a patient having asthma attack find it difficult to breathe and take in oxygen. As the amount of oxygen the body is deprived of rises, the fear increases.

In these cases, hypnosis can be used to reduce such negative emotions and lower stress. In addition, it can boost the immune system, making vital organs work properly. All of these reduce asthma symptoms.