Exercising with asthma

As our workload increases, so does the demand on the body. In order to compensate, vital functions of the body such as breathing and heart rate increase. As a result, exercising can be difficult for those with any condition that affects breathing. Nevertheless, exercise is an important aspect of overall health and exercising may even improve symptoms of asthma.اضافة اعلان

What is asthma?

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways to the lungs that can greatly restrict breathing during acute exacerbations. During these exacerbations, the small passages through which blood receives oxygen become swollen and the muscles tighten. Additionally, mucus begins to fill the airway, making it even more difficult to breathe. Ultimately, this results in coughing, tightness of chest, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Asthma is a chronic and lifelong condition, but acute symptoms are reversible and thanks to modern medicine, resolution of an exacerbation can be achieved within a few minutes.

Triggers for asthma

Several triggers can cause an acute attack of asthma; they vary from person to person. Many people have seasonal asthma, which is a type of allergic asthma. During different times of the year, certain allergens, such as pollen, become more common and may trigger an attack. Similarly, changes in weather may also be a trigger. The transition from cold to warm air or vice versa can cause the lungs to overreact, resulting in an exacerbation. Additionally, exercise itself can put high demand on the lungs, which can exacerbate symptoms of asthma in what is commonly known as exercise induced asthma (EIA). EIA typically occurs within the first few minutes of exercise and up to 10-15 minutes after physical activity. The majority of asthmatic individuals have EIA, so it is important to speak to your doctor on the proper course of action before exercising.

Asthma is a chronic and lifelong condition, but acute symptoms are reversible and thanks to modern medicine, resolution of an exacerbation can be achieved within a few minutes.

Other common triggers of asthma include infections, like cold or flu, high humidity, and environmental irritants, such as pollution. Unfortunately, most triggers are unavoidable and taking your medication as prescribed is important. Generally, most asthma treatment involves a controller medication and a reliever medication. Controller medication help maintain a healthy airway and reduces symptoms from day to day, whereas reliever medication is often used in acute exacerbation.

Exercise induced asthma

The preferred term for EIA is actually exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). The reason for this is because exercise is not the true cause of asthma, but one of many possible triggers. In EIB, the airways become narrow in a process known as bronchoconstriction. The exact cause of EIB is unclear, but it is believed that more than one biological process is involved.

It is estimated that 90 percent of individuals who have asthma also experience EIB. Other factors may contribute to asthma attacks: cold or dry air, air pollution, irritants such as chlorine from swimming pools, and activities that require extended periods of deep breathing, such as running long distances, soccer, and swimming. If not managed correctly, especially in those with already poor asthma control, complications can be serious or even life threatening.

Benefits of exercising with asthma

Despite the risk of EIB, exercise is still important for those with asthma and can even reduce the symptoms associated with it. Regular exercise increases endurance, builds muscles, and improves lung capacity. This helps those with asthma by decreasing the demand on the body and how much oxygen they need to carry out activities. Overall, exercise will help with shortness of breath, which is commonly associated with asthma. Exercising regularly also helps reduce inflammation, and since asthma is an inflammatory process, it can help manage symptoms.

Tips for exercising with asthma

Every asthmatic patient is given a treatment plan that best suits the individual’s life. If you exercise regularly and notice that EIB is a concern, speak to your doctor while coming up with an action plan. Most likely, you will be directed to take pre-exercise medication. If this is the case, be sure you take it before exercise, regardless of whether you experience symptoms.

Warm-up and cool-down exercises accompanying a workout regimen should be added. These can be dynamic stretching or a brisk walk and serve the function of preparing the body for the changes in heart and breathing rates. Breathing exercises may also be incorporated into a pre- and post-exercise regimen. These help improve lung function and open the airways which, in turn, reduces the effort of breathing. However, these exercises do not replace the use of pre-exercise medication. Examples of breathing exercises for asthma include diaphragmatic breathing, nasal breathing, and pursed lip breathing.

If you have allergic asthma, it is best to avoid working out outside when pollen and air pollution counts are high.

It is also important to be mindful of the environment you are working out in. If you have allergic asthma, it is best to avoid working out outside when pollen and air pollution counts are high. Additionally, if you develop a viral infection such as the cold or flu, it is best to stay at home and rest until your recover. Lastly, it is important to find the right level of exercise. Low-intensity exercising does not have the same benefits as working out at a higher intensity. That being said, overworking may leave you vulnerable to an asthma exacerbation.

Exercises for asthmatics

For those who have their asthma under control, there are no real limitations to exercise. As long as you have your medication near you and take it as instructed, you can enjoy all the activities those who do not have asthma enjoy. Those who are newly diagnosed and just starting on medication should start slow and use exercises that are gentler on body, until they are well controlled.

One of the best exercises or sports for asthmatics is swimming. It comes highly recommended as it has additional benefits to asthma. The moist and warm air, low pollen exposure and pressure on the chest may help prevent acute exacerbation of asthma. Additionally, swimming regularly uses breathing techniques which can improve airway function. However, the chlorine in chlorinated pools may act as an irritant and worsen asthma. It is important to use caution when swimming in a new pool.

Other sports such as baseball, gymnastics, volleyball, or golf are also good activities for those with asthma as they involve short bursts of activity and are typically followed by intermittent breaks. For those who enjoy running, shorter-distance running is preferred over long-distance running. For those who have difficulty controlling asthma, long-distance running should generally be avoided. Recreational biking, walking, and hiking are also great exercise alternatives. These exercises are generally lighter on the body and do not place a high demand on breathing. However, due to the fact that these exercises are outdoor activities, it is important to be mindful of the environment and avoid any possible triggers.


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