subject: The Benefits Of Exercise For Asthma Sufferers [print this page] Even though many people who suffer with asthma are very uneasy about doing strenuous exercise, lots of experts believe that regular exercise can go a long way to making people with asthma feel better physically as well as mentally. However patients are advised to talk to their doctor before they start an exercise program, to be sure that it is ok for them to exercise.
Usually, the symptoms of asthma when exercising include coughing, tightness and maybe pain in the chest and shortness of breath. To be on the safe side, people who suffer from asthma need to do certain things before they exercise to help lower the chances of exercise induced asthma attacks.
Some tips to get the most out of exercise, and prevent asthma attacks while getting exercise are:
1. Make sure that the exercise you choose is something you can handle. Some of the best exercises for asthma suffers are things like walking, riding a bike, swimming, and hiking. These are generally tolerated much better than other types of exercise that make you run for long periods of time. Symptoms are usually fewer with exercises that are constant, like gymnastics, golf, and wrestling. Things like tennis, field hockey, long distance running, and softball, can make symptoms more likely to occur.
2. If you use things to control your asthma, then use your inhaler about 15 minutes before you start to exercise, and be sure they are close to you when exercising in case you are in need of them.
3. It is also a great idea to breathe through your nose, and not through your mouth, since this can trigger an asthma attack, due to the fact that mouth breathing causes cold air to be inhaled right into the bronchial tubes. Breathing through your nose allows the air you breathe to be filtered and given moisture, as well as warming the air before in reaches your lungs.
4. Be sure that you exercise somewhere that there is a minimal amount of pollution, and allergens. It is best to avoid places where there are grass and trees, as well as mould.
5. If you are suffering through asthma symptoms already, you should avoid exercise, until symptoms subside. 6. Be on the lookout for signs of an asthma attack. It is possible that if you experience signs of asthma soon after commencing exercise then your asthma might not be being controlled. Talk to your doctor about any preventative medicines that may be appropriate for you.
Asthma that is induced during exercise is caused when the muscles that are around the airways become sensitive to the changes in humidity and temperature, and they contract, making the airways more narrow. Some of the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma are:
1. Being abnormally tired during exercise
2. Having a hard time catching your breath when exercising
3. Chest begins to tighten
4. You start to wheeze Most of the time, these symptoms will begin about 5 to 20 minutes after exercise has started, or a few minutes after you have stopped exercising. These sort of symptoms need to be discussed with your doctor before exercising.
To prevent or control asthma symptoms before or during exercise, asthma inhalers or bronchodilators can work well for asthma sufferers. Used before exercise then they may reduce the chance of experiencing asthma symptoms during exercise.
Some other treatments for asthma include medications that last for up to twelve hours, like Foradil and Serevent. If used first thing in the morning then the symptoms of asthma may be significantly reduced for the remainder of the day. You should also have an asthma inhaler with you as well, in case of emergencies.
Other things that can be done, is to make sure you cool down after exercising, and warm up before you exercise. If you have allergies and asthma, you should not exercise outside when there are high pollen levels, or days when pollution is high. You should also not exercise when you have an infection, as this can also increase your chances of having exercise induced asthma attacks.
People who suffer with asthma who exercise regularly, usually have less asthma attacks, and they are often not as severe. It can often go a long way to making the person feel better mentally as well.
People that suffer from asthma shouldn't put off exercise if their doctor tells them it is alright. It can provide the sufferer many lasting benefits, and allow them to get more enjoyment out of life.
