Respiratory parameters of terminal cancer patients predicted by 1960 Buteyko table of health zone

Physiological state of advanced cancer patients isbreathing frequency; 6.5% CO2 in the alveoli; 4 s
characterised by tens of parameters that arefor automatic pause during unconscious breathing
outside of the normal range. Among the simplestand 60 s of oxygen in the body for breath holding
cardio-respiratory parameters used by moderntime. Such parameters were normal for many
oncologists are pulse and respiratory rate at restordinary people about 100-120 years ago. Modern
(Chiang et al, 2009; de Miguel Sanchez et al, 2006;people breathe faster and deeper, CO2 is less,
Groeger et al, 1998). After investigating severalheart rate is higher, and body oxygenation is less
parameters and characteristics in 100 terminally illthan 30 s. The most severe or last stage of the
cancer patients, Dudgeon and Lertzman (1998)disease (7th stage of the disease) corresponds to
concluded that “spirometry was abnormal incritically and terminally ill patients.
93% of patients”.Terminal cancer patients, according to Buteyko
Physiological state of terminally ill cancer patients isTable, should have less than 5 s CP, when the
characterised by dozens of parameters that areimmune system offer no resistance to pathogenic
outside of the normal range. Among the simplestbacteria, viruses, and malignant cells even in the
cardio-respiratory parameters used by modernblood due to severe tissue hypoxia and
oncologists are pulse and respiratory rate at restsuppressed immune system. At this stage, they
(Chiang et al, 2009; de Miguel Sanchez et al, 2006;are likely to be bed-ridden, unable to work, have
Groeger et al, 1998). After investigating severalproblems with self-care, etc. With around 3-5 s
parameters and characteristics in 100 terminally illfor body oxygenation, these people may need to
cancer patients, Dudgeon and Lertzman (1998)be fed and can loose consciousness. These were
concluded that “spirometry was abnormal inthe observations of Dr. Buteyko and his
93% of patients”.colleagues, who studied breathing parameters of
While most formulas, which could predict survivalterminally ill heart and asthma patients in the
of cancer patients, involve blood analysis and1960s before these patients were able to learn
other complicated procedures, a group of Spanishthe Buteyko breathing retraining method.
doctors suggested only 3 simple parametersHence, the Palliative Performance Status at 3-10 s
reflected in the title of their study: “PalliativeCP would be very low because it includes 5
Performance Status, Heart Rate and Respiratorycharacteristics (Ambulation; Activity Level
Rate as Predictive Factors of Survival Time inEvidence of Disease; Self-Care ability; Food
Terminally Ill Cancer Patients” (de MiguelIntake; Level of Consciousness).
Sanchez et al, 2006). Ninety-eight patients wereIn order to find the exact numbers, let us
studied, whose median survival was 32 days. Inconsider the last row of this Table (for 5 s CP or
abstract these doctors noted, “In thethe terminal stage of disease). It corresponds to
multivariate analysis, three independent variablesthe heart rate of 100 and the breathing
were identified: Palliative Performance Score of 50frequency of 30 breaths per minute for early
or under, heart rate of 100/minute or more, andmorning numbers (epidemiological studies found
respiratory rate of 24/minute or more.”that critically ill patients are likely to die from about
In the 1960s, when Doctor Konstantin Buteyko4 to 7 am). During day time, their parameters
was the head of the classified respiratory projectwould be better. According to the table, less than
devoted to first Soviet spaceship missions10 s CP (body oxygenation) means over 90
(Soviets wanted to define ideal air composition inbeats per minute for pulse and over 26 for
a space rocket and ideal respiratory parametersrespiratory frequency. Spanish doctors  (de
of astronauts for their maximum performanceMiguel Sanchez et al, 2006) found the pulse over
and body oxygenation), he analyzed results of100 and respiratory rate over 24 are very poor
thousands of healthy and sick people (mostly withpredictors of survival and these parameters are
heart disease and asthma) and suggested theclose to Buteyko observations, considering huge
Buteyko Table of health zones. Several booksdeviations from the norms (about 2 times).
(e.g., Buteyko & Buteyko, 2005) and websitesTherefore, there is almost no difference, from
have this table. The discovery of health zonesthe cardio-respiratory viewpoint and body
was so important for Dr/ Buteyko that he filled aoxygenation state, in parameters of terminally ill
patent application with the title “Method forpatients with these seemingly different conditions:
assessment of human health” Application No.:heart disease, asthma, and cancer.
99114075/14 from 23.06.1999 (Russian FederalReferences
Service for Intellectual Property, Patents andButeyko VK, Buteyko MM, The Buteyko theory
Trademarks).about a key role of breathing for human health,
The Buteyko Table links together severalScientific introduction to the Buteyko therapy for
fundamental physiological characteristics of theexperts, Buteyko Co LTD, Voronezh, 2005.
human body, including heart rate, respiratoryChiang JK, Lai NS, Wang MH, Chen SC, Kao YH, A
frequency, CO2 concentration in the alveoli of theproposed prognostic 7-day survival formula for
lungs, automatic pause (a natural pause of totalpatients with terminal cancer, BMC Public Health.
rest or no breathing after their usual exhalation),2009 Sep 29; 9(1): p.365.de Miguel Sanchez C,
and the Control Pause (or body oxygenationElustondo SG, Estirado A, Sanchez FV, de la Rasilla
index). The CP is the breath holding timeCooper CG, Romero AL, Otero A, Olmos LG,
measured after usual exhalation, but only until thePalliative Performance Status, Heart Rate and
signs of initial discomfort or stress.   Respiratory Rate as Predictive Factors of Survival
The normal parameters according to his table are:Time in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients, J Pain
60 beats per min for pulse; 8 breaths per min forSymptom Managem. June 2006; 31(6), p. 485-492.