4 Tips For Exercising When Your Asthma Gets In The Way

Asthma makes exercising incredibly difficult, especially for those who enjoy it, and how debilitating and frustrating it can be.But what happens inside your body during an asthma attack?How can you still enjoy exercise when this happens?

Asthma in the context of sports

A good idea is to imagine walking and breathing through a straw at the same time.When we exercise, our bodies need more air and oxygen, which requires our lungs to work harder.If your airways are inflamed and narrow, it can be more difficult to breathe in air (and expel carbon dioxide).

Asthma is also associated with the interaction of the lungs with the environment.The breathing tubes (airways or bronchial tubes) of asthmatics are particularly sensitive to environmental triggers.When airways are triggered, they swell and tighten, making it difficult for air to pass through.This leads to bronchoconstriction, which causes wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing.

Notably, there are differences between asthma and exercise-induced asthma (also known clinically as EIB).EIB is similar to asthma, but it only occurs in response to exercise.

This is important because sometimes people who experience symptoms while exercising are diagnosed with EIB when they actually have asthma!

The bottom line is that if someone has EIB, they need to be formally tested for asthma.

Is this asthma or the common feeling of shortness of breath after a workout?

But wait, isn’t it normal to be a little out of breath when you’re exerting yourself?It depends.

You may need to stop taking the medication, and you may find that recovery takes longer than usual.If your symptoms improve with the use of a fast-acting inhaler such as salbutamol, then this indicates that you are experiencing bronchoconstriction.

Another sign is that symptoms start to appear when you are exposed to trigger environments (e.g., cold, dry air), or when you continue to exercise regularly (and rest!)when those symptoms don’t improve.

How to safely enjoy exercise with asthma

Exercise is not always a contributing factor to asthma; in fact, exercise can help.Exercise improves lung capacity, increases blood flow, and delivers oxygen throughout the body.

Here are some suggestions from doctors:

1.Adherence to general asthma-related self-care

First, discuss your asthma and its treatment with your doctor.This may include using a prescription inhaler every day, quitting smoking (or avoiding contact with smokers if possible), and anything else your doctor recommends in your Asthma Plan.

It’s important to avoid triggers (more on that later), relax during an asthma attack, exercise with someone who knows you have asthma, and do strength training rather than just aerobic exercise.

2.Find your favorite moderate-intensity exercise

Overly intense, competitive or extreme sports can lead to disaster.But the good news is:Many sports and exercises are considered “safe”.Hiking, swimming, tennis, yoga, biking, baseball, basketball, gymnastics, golf, and dance are all good options.

Endurance sports played in extreme temperatures, such as cross-country skiing, soccer, or any type of long-distance event, may be more challenging, but not impossible.

3.Build up slowly and see how it goes

While these sports and activities are usually available, you still need to be careful, especially when trying new ones.

Once you understand your asthma and are confident that you’ve taken your doctor’s advice, exercise cautiously, starting with exercises like short walks or bike rides to see how your body reacts.As with any new workout, reward yourself by increasing slowly, doing something achievable, and remembering that even light exercise is better than sitting at a desk or on the couch.

“Sports snacks,” which means moving your body for short periods of time throughout the day, may also be a good option.

4.Understanding and avoiding asthma triggers

Your doctor may have told you about factors that can aggravate your asthma.Try to avoid any factors associated with exercise.

Remember that asthma can be triggered by substances in the environment such as cold air, pollen, smoke and fumes, so be mindful of when and where you exercise (e.g., the cold air in the early morning) and keep reliever medication handy.

If you love the outdoors but need to work out indoors for your health, you can watch and listen to virtual running videos like this one that will make you feel as if you’re outside.

Try to self-compassionate rather than self-criticize when you do these things.You’re not the only one struggling with this, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of.Health and fitness are not moral issues that make you a more “good” or “valuable” person (or a less “good” or “valuable” person).” person).