Control of breathing in asthma.

The hyperventilation seen in asthma is due to an increase in respiratory drive. This may be reflected by increased neural output to the respiratory muscles and probably by alterations in the respiratory pattern. This increased respiratory drive is most likely in response to irritant receptor stimulation in the lung. Our understanding of the genesis of hyperventilation and an abnormal breathing pattern in asthma has paralleled in growth in our understanding of the mechanism of respiratory control. New methods for studying the control of respiration have been applied to the clinical problem of asthma successfully. Further growth in the applications of knowledge of respiratory control may be expected.