Yoga may not be of much help to asthma sufferers

Researchers have said that even though yoga is often suggested to asthma sufferers to help alleviate symptoms, a new study has found little evidence that yoga will improve symptoms.

Researchers of the report examined 14 previously published studies to determine the effectiveness of yoga in the treatment of asthma.

Holger Cramer, PhD, lead author of the study, said they reviewed the available data to see if it made a difference and found only weak evidence that it does. Yoga can't be considered a routine intervention for patients with asthma at this time. But it can be considered an alternative to breathing exercises for asthma patients interested in complementary interventions.

In the review, 824 adults were part of 14 studies examined for evidence that yoga improves control, symptoms, quality of life and lung function in patients with asthma. Participants in the studies were from North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Because only one trial included children, the effects of yoga on children couldn't be evaluated.

The study has been published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.