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Improve Your Breathing Through Writing

© Floyd Tilton

Recently I found an interesting article published on MSN's Health Section which stated that writing about the stressful events in your life could improve your health. It stated that a research study conducted by Joshua Smyth, PhD., and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, April 14, 1999 indicated that even patients with asthma could benefit significantly by using this writing as therapy technique.

The study indicates that after four months, 47% of the group studied had improved their lung capacities, while only 24% of the control group showed progress. How could this happen? We know that talking about stressful events is a technique used for years by psychiatrists to help their patients improve their mental health. We also know that stress causes muscle tightness in the chest and exacerbates asthma attacks. Perhaps, writing about stressful events helps the asthma patient to "get it off his/her chest", therefore relaxing the muscles and reducing the breathing difficulties that they cause. In other words, reduce your stress and improve your health. It won't cure you, but you may feel better.

Whatever the reason, this study at least indicates a significant improvement in lung capacity. Whether this holds true for other studies, and becomes accepted medical practice is unknown, but one thing is certain - in this world full of costly and possibly dangerous "cures" being offered by some individuals, this is a simple, free and safe way to possibly improve your lung capacity. If it doesn't work, you're not any worse off either physically or financially, and if it does, then you've gained something that as an asthma patient you've been looking for, better breathing.

I know that in my own case, it appears that the study is valid. My breathing is better since I started writing about one of the more stressful events in my life, emphysema. I still have to take my medications, of course; however I now use an inhaler only as needed, not on a regular basis. Is it possible that this technique works for other respiratory conditions as well? Only time will tell. Of course, this is my own observation and is not supported by any research, but so what? I feel better and that's what's important.

By the way, this research also included patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and the research yielded similar results. For the arthritis sufferers the results of writing were less pain and increased range of motion. With the study indicating improvement in two such widely different conditions, it might be that this technique would work with many other conditions. Again, it might be worth a try for anyone with physical problems. Even if it didn't work, you might find that keeping a journal is a fun and educational experience that improves your life.