Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Does Not Substitute for Asthma Steroid Controller Medication.

ABSTRACT: Despite previous findings of therapeutic effects for heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) on asthma, it is not known whether HRVB can substitute either for controller or rescue medication, or whether it affects airway inflammation. Sixty-eight paid volunteer steroid naïve study participants with mild or moderate asthma were given 3 months of HRVB or a comparison condition consisting of EEG alpha biofeedback with relaxing music and relaxed paced breathing (EEG+), in a two-center trial. All participants received a month of intensive asthma education prior to randomization. Both treatment conditions produced similar significant improvements on the methacholine challenge test (MCT), asthma symptoms, and asthma quality of life (AQOL). MCT effects were of similar size to those of enhanced p

SUBMITTER: Lehrer PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5871536 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature