What You Need To Know About Exercising With Asthma

Asthma is a chronic condition characterized by shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness in the chest and coughing fits. It causes swelling and narrowing of the airways, where the muscles around the airway tighten, producing extra mucus. These changes make breathing difficult by restricting the amount of air that moves to and from the lungs.

It’s not known why some people get asthma and others don’t, but there are certain triggers, like physical exercise, air pollutants, anxiety or a wide variety of allergens. It can even happen when a person is sleeping. It’s believed that asthma can be attributed to various environmental and genetic factors.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is the term used when asthma symptoms develop from the airway narrowing due to physical activity. While the reason for this is unclear, doctors speculate that rapidly breathing in and out through the mouth may cause the airway to become dry and cool. This can irritate the throat and lungs, resulting in asthma symptoms.

This can be especially true when exercising in the cold weather. For those with EIB, symptoms usually appear five to 20 minutes after exercise begins. Symptoms include:

• Coughing
• Tightness in the chest
• Wheezing

Our heart rate elevates when we exercise, causing us to breathe more rapidly and aggressively. This larger air intake increases our exposure to air pollutants, another EIB cause, too.

It’s safe to exercise if you have asthma as long as you monitor your symptoms, avoid triggers and talk with your doctor. To better support your whole health when exercising with asthma, it’s recommended that you:

• Bring any medications, such as a quick-relief inhaler
• Ease into your exercise; Warm up as needed
• Exercise indoors if it's cold or there are high levels of pollutants or allergens outside
• Wear a mask, scarf or other piece of clothing over your mouth if exercising outside

It’s important that you talk with your primary care provider to create a unique asthma treatment plan tailored to your needs so you can maintain a healthy lifestyle.

There are many benefits of exercising for those with asthma. Exercise is important for our overall health, specifically our lung health. Some benefits include:

• Improved immune system
• Improved lung function
• Lower stress levels
• Weight loss

Exercising has a direct impact on our lung capacity. It increases blood flow to our lungs, which promotes blood flow to the heart, which pumps oxygen through our bodies. Since asthma restricts airflow, exercising is a great way to counteract this effect and improve your ability to breathe.

However, it’s important that you speak with your doctor before including exercise in your daily routines. While exercising can be beneficial to those with asthma, it may be harmful to others. Check with your doctor to ensure you’re caring for your body in the best way possible.

Exercises or sports with short bursts of exertion are best for those with asthma. These include:

• Baseball
• Biking
• Gymnastics
• Hiking
• Volleyball
• Walking

These activities are better for those with asthma because they put less strain on your lungs and allow for more rest periods so you can recover. Activities like soccer, long-distance running and basketball may not be as easy, but they're possible for those with asthma. It’s important that you talk to your doctor before participating in any longer-exertion activities to ensure they’re safe for you.