The Effect of Hypnosis on Respiratory Function in Addicted to Cigarette Smoking

AIM: Most notably chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and smoking brings about a variety of diseases contributing to lung cancer. Our aim is to investigate the effect of hypnosis on pulmonary functions in case smoker with spirometry. METHOD: Our research was done on a 53-year old patient with COPD who has been smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years and suffering from exertional dyspnea for last 5 years. Spirometry was applied on the male patient consulted for smoking cessation by taking advantage of hypnotherapy. Using fast hypnosis technique, the patient was put into trance. Positive imaginations and breathing techniques were exerted during hypnosis. Spirometric measurements were recorded before and during hypnosis. The man was woken up by using count down method. These sessions were repeated once a week for three weeks. Teaching autohypnosis and breathing techniques, this method was done in home in intervals between sessions. RESULTS: In our study, FEV1: %41, FCV: %69, FEV1/FVC: %49.7, FEF25-75: % 10.9 were recorded before hypnosis. In the first session, the measurements during hypnosis were FEV1: %45, FVC: % 70, FEV1/FVC: % 50.6, FEF25-75: %11.5, in the second session FEV1: %49, FCV: %72, FEV1/FVC: % 53, FEF25-75: %12, and in the third session FEV1: %50, FVC: %75, FEV1/FVC: %55, FEF25-75: %14 were found. At the end of the third week the number of daily smoking fell by half. CONCLUSION: Improve in respiratory functions was recorded once the patient went under hypnosis process. Exerting positive imaginations on patient by hypnotherapist leads to an elevation in the blood circulation in limbic region there by the endorphins level goes up and unrest feelings reduce. Relaxation occurs in pulmonary muscles. Our research can be the first to show the impacts of hypnosis on dyspnea rehabilitation in smoker patient suffering from COPD.