VIVAS HEALTH TO COVER PIONEERING ASTHMA TREATMENT
4th April 2008: VIVAS Health today announced details of an exclusive partnership with Asthma Care Ireland. This will see VIVAS Health members benefit from discounts on the unique Buteyko Method – a breathing technique for asthma sufferers that can result in up to fifty per cent reduction of the symptoms of asthma within two weeks.
470,000 people in Ireland have asthma, this is the fourth highest prevalence in the world. 90,000 of those do not have their symptoms controlled. The impact asthma has on national productively levels is significant: Irish adults with asthma loose on average 12 working days a year while Irish children with asthma lose on average 10 school days a year.
Patrick McKeown, founder of Asthma Care Ireland and one of the few Western experts directly authorised and accredited by the Late Professor Buteyko to teach this method explained: “Professor Konstantin Buteyko discovered that people with asthma over breathe, i.e. they take larger volumes of air often through their mouths instead of controlled gentle breaths through their noses. They breathe a volume of air two to three times greater than that which they require. This results in constriction of the airways, resulting in asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. We teach people how to control their breathing and therefore reverse their symptoms.”
Prof. John Fenton of Limerick Regional Hospital is currently conducting a study into the effectiveness of the treatment, and while the results have yet to be launched, the preliminary findings are very positive: “In our association during the past 3-4 years on a purely anecdotal basis, I can say that the vast majority of all of my patients have received great benefit from their nasal symptoms following instruction at the AsthmaCare workshops. More recently we have almost completed a prospective study which indicates that there is a 75-80% improvement in nasal symptoms which persists at 3 month follow-up as long as the patients continue the exercises.”
Oliver Tattan, Chief Executive, VIVAS Health said: “We are delighted to announce this exclusive partnership with Asthma Care Ireland and it is further demonstration of how VIVAS Health is committed to negotiating benefits for their members that will assist in the prevention and early treatment of illness. This is another benefit unique to VIVAS Health members, as we continue to focus on ensuring member well-being. At VIVAS Health we pride ourselves on our commitment to enable our members to take control of their health.”
VIVAS Health have partnered with Asthma Care Ireland to offer members discount of €135 for kids and € 65 for adults on the treatment price of € 275. Treatment is available in seven different treatment locations nationwide. For more detail, free-phone 1800 931 935, email info@asthmacare.ie or visit www.vivashealth.ie or www.asthmacare.ie.
Notes to the Editor:
Research into the Buteyko Method in Australia and New Zealand has shown that the need for preventer medication is reduced by 50% and the need for reliever medication is reduced by 90% within three to six months.
Asthma Care are located in: Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Athlone, Cork and Kilkenny.
Study in Limerick Regional Hospital being overseen by Dr Adelola.