Asthma (Diagnosis)NCT07529847
Comparative Effects of Alternative Nostril Breathing Versus Buteyko Breathing on Control Pause, Dyspnea and Pulmonary Function in Patients With Bronchial Asthma
A study testing Alternative Nostril Breathing Technique along with standard pharmacological management and Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological management in people with Asthma (Diagnosis), run by Foundation University Islamabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflmmatory airway disease characterized by recurrent episodes of dyspnea, wheezing, and airflow limitation. Dysfunctional breathing pattern and chronic hyperventilation Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Asthma (Diagnosis)
- What is being tested?
- Alternative Nostril Breathing Technique along with standard pharmacological management and Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological management
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 46 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 28 Feb 2026to 15 May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18-45 years
- Both genders (male and female)
- Grade 1-3 on mMRC scale of dyspnea
- Asthma severity classes- intermediate,mild persistent and moderate persistent asthma (acc. to NAEPP National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidlines 2020)
Who cannot join
- Patients having acute exerbation of COPD/status asthmaticus
- Patients diagnosed with acute infection
- Patients unable to follow command and instructions
- Asthma patients with >40sec control pause duration
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Foundation University Islamabad
Islamabad
Zara Khalid, PhD, +92333-5415822, zara.khalid@fui.edu.pk
About this study
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflmmatory airway disease characterized by recurrent episodes of dyspnea, wheezing, and airflow limitation.
Dysfunctional breathing pattern and chronic hyperventilation
Read the detailed description
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease in which there are recurrent episodes shortness of breath, wheezing,and limitation in airflow.
Chronic hyperventilation and dysfunctional breathing pattern and commonly contribute to symptom severity and poor asthma control.This study aims to compare the effects of Alternate Nostril Breathing and Buteyko Breathing Technique on control pause, dyspnea, pulmonary function, and asthma control in patients with bronchial asthma.This study aims to compare the effects of Alternate Nostril Breathing and Buteyko Breathing Technique on control pause, dyspnea, pulmonary function, and asthma control in patients with bronchial asthma.This study aims to compare the effects of Alternate Nostril Breathing and Buteyko Breathing Technique on control pause, dyspnea, pulmonary function, and asthma control in patients with bronchial asthma.A total of 40 patients with mild to moderate persistent bronchial asthma will be recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive Alternate Nostril Breathing, while Group B will receive the Buteyko Breathing Technique, along with standard pharmacological management.
The intervention will be conducted over a period of four weeks, with two supervised sessions per week and additional home-based sessions.
- Conditions
- Asthma (Diagnosis)
- Being tested
- Alternative Nostril Breathing Technique along with standard pharmacological management, Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological management
- Keywords
- Bronchial asthma, alternative nostril breathing, buteyko breathing, dyspnea, pulmonary function, asthma control
- Medical subject headings
- Asthma, Disease, Dyspnea
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Alternative Nostril Breathing Technique along with standard pharmacological managementOther
Patients in this group will receive alternative nostril breathing technique along with standard pharmacological management.
A total 4 weeks protocol will be followed in which 2 seesions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist and 5 days at home.
Alternative nostril breathing will be performed in sitting position. The patient will be asked to place their right thumb to gently close their right nostril.
Inhale slowly for 4 sec deeply through left nostril and hold breath for 2-3 sec.
Release right nostril and use your right ring finger to close your left nostril.
Exhale slowly 6 sec and completely through right nostril.Inhale slowly 4 sec and deeply through right nostril.Then hold breath for 2-3 sec.
Patients will be asked to release the left nostril and use their right thumb to close their right nostril. Exhale slowly and completely through left nostril over 6 sec.Repeat the cycle.
Pharmacological management: Patient will receive medications as per prescribed by pulmonologist
Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological managementOther
Patient in this group will receive Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological management. A total 4 weeks protocol will be followed in which 2 sessions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist and 5 days will be done by patients at home.
The patient will sit comfortably in upright position. The patients will be give following instructions. Breathe normally for 2-3 minutes (nasal inhalation and nasal exhalation). After relax exhale, hold your breath, use index finger and thumb to plug nose. Retain your breath until you feel the urge to breathe (first sign of air hunger) then inhale. Breath normally for 10 sec. Repeat several times.
Pharmacological management: Patient will receive medications as prescribed by pulmonologist
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Alternate Nostril Breathing | Experimental | Patients in this group will receive Alternate Nostril Breathing (ANB) along with standard pharmacological management as prescribed by the pulmonologist.
The breathing intervention will be performed for a duration of 4 weeks. Two sessions per week will be supervised by a physiotherapist, and five sessions per week will be performed at home. Each session will last 10-15 minutes, following a structured ANB protocol involving slow nasal inhalation and exhalation with brief breath holds.
A home exercise diary will be provided to ensure adherence and follow-up of breathing exercises performed at home. Receives: Other: Alternative Nostril Breathing Technique along with standard pharmacological management |
| Buteyko Breathing | Experimental | Patients in this group will receive the Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) along with standard pharmacological management as prescribed by the pulmonologist. The intervention will be administered over a period of 4 weeks. Two sessions per week will be supervised by a physiotherapist, while five sessions per week will be carried out at home. Each session will last 10-15 minutes and will include controlled nasal breathing, relaxed exhalation, and breath holding (control pause) until the first sensation of air hunger.
A home diary will be provided to monitor compliance and ensure regular performance of breathing exercises at home. Receives: Other: Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological management |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Control Pause
Evaluation will be performed using the Control Pause test, defined as the duration (in seconds) a participant can comfortably hold their breath after a normal exhalation. The measurement will be recorded using a stopwatch.
Participants will be assessed in a seated position following normal tidal breathing, and breath-hold will be initiated after a normal exhalation without prior deep inspiration.
The Control Pause duration ranges from 0 seconds to the maximum voluntary breath-hold time.
Higher values indicate better breath control and improved respiratory function, whereas lower values indicate poorer respiratory status.
Measured: 04 weeks
Dyspnea
Evaluation will be performed using the Dyspnea-12 Questionnaire (D-12), a validated patient-reported outcome measure consisting of 12 items assessing both physical and affective components of breathlessness. The total score ranges from 0 to 36, with each item scored from 0 (none) to 3 (severe).
Higher scores indicate greater severity of dyspnea and worse symptom burden.
Measured: 04 weeks
Pulmonary Function Test
Evaluation will be performed using spirometry, conducted according to standard guidelines. The primary parameters assessed will include Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV₁), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and FEV₁/FVC ratio. Values will be recorded in liters (L) and as percentage of predicted values (%) based on age, sex, height, and ethnicity.
Higher values of FEV₁ and FVC indicate better pulmonary function, while a higher FEV₁/FVC ratio indicates reduced airflow obstruction and improved respiratory status.
Measured: 04 weeks
Asthma Control
Evaluation will be performed using the Asthma Control Test (ACT), a validated patient-reported questionnaire consisting of 5 items assessing asthma symptoms and control over the past 4 weeks. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale (1-5), with a total score ranging from 5 to 25.
Higher scores indicate better asthma control, while lower scores indicate poorer control. A score of ≥20 suggests well-controlled asthma, whereas scores <20 indicate partially controlled or poorly controlled asthma.
Measured: 04 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Apr 2026
- Study start28 Feb 2026
- Primary completion15 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion15 May 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Asthma (Diagnosis)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Foundation University IslamabadThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This is a randomized controlled trial having two groups. One group (interventional group A) wil receive Alternative nostril breathing along with pharmacological management and the other group (interventional group B) will perform Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological management.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Foundation University Islamabad
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07529847
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- FUCP/CTR/2026/04
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 14 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Alternative Nostril Breathing Versus Buteyko Breathing on Control Pause, Dyspnea and Pulmonary Function in Patients With Bronchial Asthma
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07529847
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FUCP/CTR/2026/04
- Conditions
- Asthma (Diagnosis)
- Keywords
- Bronchial asthma, alternative nostril breathing, buteyko breathing, dyspnea, pulmonary function, asthma control
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Foundation University IslamabadUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 28 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 May 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 14 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflmmatory airway disease characterized by recurrent episodes of dyspnea, wheezing, and airflow limitation.
Dysfunctional breathing pattern and chronic hyperventilation
Detailed description
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease in which there are recurrent episodes shortness of breath, wheezing,and limitation in airflow.
Chronic hyperventilation and dysfunctional breathing pattern and commonly contribute to symptom severity and poor asthma control.This study aims to compare the effects of Alternate Nostril Breathing and Buteyko Breathing Technique on control pause, dyspnea, pulmonary function, and asthma control in patients with bronchial asthma.This study aims to compare the effects of Alternate Nostril Breathing and Buteyko Breathing Technique on control pause, dyspnea, pulmonary function, and asthma control in patients with bronchial asthma.This study aims to compare the effects of Alternate Nostril Breathing and Buteyko Breathing Technique on control pause, dyspnea, pulmonary function, and asthma control in patients with bronchial asthma.A total of 40 patients with mild to moderate persistent bronchial asthma will be recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive Alternate Nostril Breathing, while Group B will receive the Buteyko Breathing Technique, along with standard pharmacological management.
The intervention will be conducted over a period of four weeks, with two supervised sessions per week and additional home-based sessions.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This is a randomized controlled trial having two groups. One group (interventional group A) wil receive Alternative nostril breathing along with pharmacological management and the other group (interventional group B) will perform Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological management.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Alternate Nostril Breathing | Experimental | Other: Alternative Nostril Breathing Technique along with standard pharmacological managementPatients in this group will receive Alternate Nostril Breathing (ANB) along with standard pharmacological management as prescribed by the pulmonologist. The breathing intervention will be performed for a duration of 4 weeks. Two sessions per week will be supervised by a physiotherapist, and five sessions per week will be performed at home. Each session will last 10-15 minutes, following a structured ANB protocol involving slow nasal inhalation and exhalation with brief breath holds. A home exercise diary will be provided to ensure adherence and follow-up of breathing exercises performed at home. |
| Buteyko Breathing | Experimental | Other: Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological managementPatients in this group will receive the Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) along with standard pharmacological management as prescribed by the pulmonologist. The intervention will be administered over a period of 4 weeks. Two sessions per week will be supervised by a physiotherapist, while five sessions per week will be carried out at home. Each session will last 10-15 minutes and will include controlled nasal breathing, relaxed exhalation, and breath holding (control pause) until the first sensation of air hunger. A home diary will be provided to monitor compliance and ensure regular performance of breathing exercises at home. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age between 18-45 years
- Both genders (male and female)
- Grade 1-3 on mMRC scale of dyspnea
- Asthma severity classes- intermediate,mild persistent and moderate persistent asthma (acc. to NAEPP National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidlines 2020)
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patients having acute exerbation of COPD/status asthmaticus
- Patients diagnosed with acute infection
- Patients unable to follow command and instructions
- Asthma patients with >40sec control pause duration
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative Nostril Breathing Technique along with standard pharmacological managementPatients in this group will receive alternative nostril breathing technique along with standard pharmacological management. A total 4 weeks protocol will be followed in which 2 seesions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist and 5 days at home. Alternative nostril breathing will be performed in sitting position. The patient will be asked to place their right thumb to gently close their right nostril. Inhale slowly for 4 sec deeply through left nostril and hold breath for 2-3 sec. Release right nostril and use your right ring finger to close your left nostril. Exhale slowly 6 sec and completely through right nostril.Inhale slowly 4 sec and deeply through right nostril.Then hold breath for 2-3 sec. Patients will be asked to release the left nostril and use their right thumb to close their right nostril. Exhale slowly and completely through left nostril over 6 sec.Repeat the cycle. Pharmacological management: Patient will receive medications as per prescribed by pulmonologist | Other | Alternate Nostril Breathing |
| Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological managementPatient in this group will receive Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological management. A total 4 weeks protocol will be followed in which 2 sessions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist and 5 days will be done by patients at home. The patient will sit comfortably in upright position. The patients will be give following instructions. Breathe normally for 2-3 minutes (nasal inhalation and nasal exhalation). After relax exhale, hold your breath, use index finger and thumb to plug nose. Retain your breath until you feel the urge to breathe (first sign of air hunger) then inhale. Breath normally for 10 sec. Repeat several times. Pharmacological management: Patient will receive medications as prescribed by pulmonologist | Other | Buteyko Breathing |
Primary outcome
Control Pause
Time frame: 04 weeks
Evaluation will be performed using the Control Pause test, defined as the duration (in seconds) a participant can comfortably hold their breath after a normal exhalation. The measurement will be recorded using a stopwatch. Participants will be assessed in a seated position following normal tidal breathing, and breath-hold will be initiated after a normal exhalation without prior deep inspiration. The Control Pause duration ranges from 0 seconds to the maximum voluntary breath-hold time. Higher values indicate better breath control and improved respiratory function, whereas lower values indicate poorer respiratory status.
Dyspnea
Time frame: 04 weeks
Evaluation will be performed using the Dyspnea-12 Questionnaire (D-12), a validated patient-reported outcome measure consisting of 12 items assessing both physical and affective components of breathlessness. The total score ranges from 0 to 36, with each item scored from 0 (none) to 3 (severe). Higher scores indicate greater severity of dyspnea and worse symptom burden.
Pulmonary Function Test
Time frame: 04 weeks
Evaluation will be performed using spirometry, conducted according to standard guidelines. The primary parameters assessed will include Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV₁), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and FEV₁/FVC ratio. Values will be recorded in liters (L) and as percentage of predicted values (%) based on age, sex, height, and ethnicity. Higher values of FEV₁ and FVC indicate better pulmonary function, while a higher FEV₁/FVC ratio indicates reduced airflow obstruction and improved respiratory status.
Asthma Control
Time frame: 04 weeks
Evaluation will be performed using the Asthma Control Test (ACT), a validated patient-reported questionnaire consisting of 5 items assessing asthma symptoms and control over the past 4 weeks. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale (1-5), with a total score ranging from 5 to 25. Higher scores indicate better asthma control, while lower scores indicate poorer control. A score of ≥20 suggests well-controlled asthma, whereas scores <20 indicate partially controlled or poorly controlled asthma.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Apr 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Alternative Nostril Breathing Technique along with standard pharmacological management and Buteyko breathing along with pharmacological management in people with Asthma (Diagnosis), run by Foundation University Islamabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Maryam Arooj, MSPT-CPPT (+923428190176, maryamarooj418@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Control Pause (time frame: 04 weeks). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Apr 2026.