Exercising With Asthma

It was once thought that once an individual was diagnosed with asthma, they would forever be banned from participating in any type of sports activities and their level of physical activity would be minimal. However, with continued research in this area and improvements in technology, the right plan can give anyone asthma the opportunity to life a healthy and normal life.

Individuals who have received a bachelor degree in the area of nursing or other health related fields can tell you that with proper counseling and a customized plan, individuals with asthma can even incorporate a regular regime of exercise in their schedule. The first thing that will most likely be done after a diagnosis of asthma is indicated will be the doctor prescribing the safest and most effective asthma medication to treat your symptoms so you can live a productive and active life.

Individuals that want to get involved in physical activities can do well performing activities in intermittent periods that are short such as running, baseball, aerobics, indoor and outdoor biking, walking on a treadmill, gymnastics, volleyball, and wrestling. However, they may not do as well with exercising for long periods such as basketball, distance running, field hockey and soccer.

A person with asthma has options for controlling their asthma during exercise such as always using a pre-exercise asthma inhaler prior to an exercise session and maintaining a proper cool-down time following an exercise. In addition, they can also do warm-up exercises before an exercise session, and if they have a type of allergic asthma, they can avoid exercising outdoor when pollen is in the air.

 

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Different Types of Asthma

The various types of asthma make it a complex illness that is not very easy to treat. Each type of asthma has different causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Occupational asthma is a variety of asthma that is either caused or exacerbated by irritants and conditions in the workplace. It’s fairly common, with about 20% of adult-onset asthma cases being due to occupational hazards. Unfortunately, very few people report it or even recognize it as an occupational hazard. This type of asthma tends to occur in factory settings, particularly in fabricators, manual laborers, and machine operators. Occupational asthma also is found in office settings, where irritants like dust, mold, and allergens tend to live.

Exercise-induced asthma is a type of asthma that is becoming more and more common. One common misconception is that exercise-induced asthma occurs only in those who aren’t very athletic or fit. However, exercise-induced asthma is most widespread in professional athletes. It is fairly common Olympic athletes have this type of asthma, possibly due to the intense training they undergo. Exercise-induced asthma is also frequently diagnosed in high school athletes, particularly those in endurance sports like cross-country running, bicycling, and skiing. This type of asthma often requires treatment as long as the exercise that brought it on continues.

Brittle asthma refers to two varieties of asthma. The first type is characterized by wide peak flow variability, which means that the airflow during asthma attacks varies. The second type of brittle asthma has occasional severe asthma attacks with well-controlled periods between attacks. In both types of asthma, asthma attacks aren’t completely eradicated; they can only be treated when they occur.

Getting diagnosed with the correct type of asthma is the first step to getting correct treatment. Seeing a respiratory specialist can be very helpful, as they can accurately diagnose asthma and establish an effective treatment plan.

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What is Cough-Induced Asthma?

An asthma attack, also known as an acute asthma exacerbation, can be a terrifying experience for anyone. The loss of control, inability to breathe, and intense physical discomfort is enough to put anyone into a panic. People who have had asthma for a long time can learn the triggers and warning signs of their asthma attacks, and in doing so, minimize their negative effects.

Allergens and environmental irritants are often asthma attack triggers. If you notice that pollen, animal hair, dust mites, or mold set off asthma attacks, try to minimize your exposure to them. This may involve cleaning your home frequently to stave off the development of mold, sweeping to minimize dust and animal hair, and staying indoors if pollen is in the air.

Although exercise does not always cause asthma, it can almost always create the perfect setup for an asthma attack. If you have been having trouble breathing, it may be best to avoid excessive exercise. Endurance exercises, including running, swimming, and cycling can be the worst triggers for asthma exercises. Instead of a long run, go for a brisk walk in mild weather or do some strength training.

Different weather conditions can be troublesome to asthma sufferers. Harsh, cold temperatures can irritate your throat and cause breathing problems. On those cold winter days that leave you red-nosed and shivering, stay inside if at all possible.
If you must go outside, try to get back indoors as quickly as possible. Being outside in cold, strong winds for too long can trigger an intense asthma attack.

Asthma attacks are part of life for asthmatics; however, you don’t have to let them control your life. Try to minimize your exposure to triggers to lessen your risk of an asthma attack. If you feel an asthma attack coming on, get your inhaler ready so you can be prepared for it.

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Causes and Treatment of Exercise-Induced Asthma

Exercise-induced asthma, one of the most commonly diagnosed asthma varieties, is still a mystery in many ways. As evidenced by its name, everyone knows that asthma attacks are caused by exercise. However, there is still some question as to what causes the illness to develop.

An exercise-induced asthma attack typically occurs when breathing through the mouth is required to continue getting enough air. When breathing through the nose, the air is typically warm and moist when it enters the airways. However, the same cannot be said for mouth breathing; the air is still cold and dry, and that change can be enough to cause obstruction and inflammation of the airways. After the asthma attack subsides, there tends to be few or no symptoms for about an hour, at which point the asthmatic is again prone to an attack.

This type of asthma is often responsible for mild to moderate asthma attacks marked by wheezing, coughing, and rapid breathing. However, people with allergies and exercise-induced asthma may suffer from very severe asthma attacks. This is particularly true when it is hot out, since there tends to be lots of allergens in the air.

There are several ways of treating and avoiding the effects of exercise-induced asthma. About twenty minutes before beginning exercise, doctors recommend that asthmatics take a beta agonist. Corticosteroids can also be helpful when taken in this manner. The most effective way to treat exercise-induced asthma is to prevent attacks. Training programs can be altered for asthmatic athletes to avoid triggering an asthma attack. Additionally, athletes should avoid exercising when allergens and extreme heat are prevalent.

Once it’s determined that someone has exercise-induced asthma, they can tackle it aggressively. Creating a treatment plan that allows for continued exercise helps keep asthma under control while letting athletes keep doing what they love most.

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How People Can Be Tested for Asthma

There are so many different types of asthma that someone usually has to be tested to find out exactly which one they have. Many of the different types can be treated using an inhaled steroid treatment that is very portable and easy to use. There are some cases that are more severe and require that the person be on nebulizer treatments to insure that they are able to breathe with ease. The treatments all for the person to be able to breathe in a stronger dose of steroids to help them to see the results they need.

To find out which form of asthma someone has there are tests that are often conducted. With so many different forms of asthma it is important that the tests are thorough to ensure that the person is diagnosed with the right form of asthma so that they are able to get the proper treatment. Exercise induced asthma occurs when someone is participating in vigorous activity and feels a tightness in their chest and has difficulty breathing. To test for exercise induced asthma the doctors will usually have the patient’s conduct physical activity and determine if the symptoms they are experiencing are in fact asthma. If someone has atopic asthma they will conduct an allergy test to see what the person is or is not allergic to. This will help someone to be able to avoid things that can cause them to have a reaction.

No matter what form of asthma someone has there are ways to detect and treat it. Once someone knows what form of asthma they are suffering from it is important for them to take the proper steps to treat it. A doctor will advise a patient of what they need to do to protect themselves from having an asthma attack and tell them how to properly treat it.

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Asthma and Exercise

Leading a productive life with healthy exercise can be beneficial for people living with asthma as well as those who don’t have it. Many people with respiratory issues may be afraid to take part in an exercise program because they feel it may cause an asthma attack but actually, they should be active in their life and feel free to take on exercise. There are a few things to be aware of in making your asthma better with exercise instead of worsening your condition.

Since being out of shape and having extra weight on the body makes asthma worse, it stands to reason that exercise with asthma is a perfect fit. Taking the right precautions and getting the right knowledge will make it easy to incorporate an exercise program into your life.

The first thing to think of before you start any type of exercise program is to see your doctor. Your doctor can make sure you start with a healthy program that has a gradual increase in activity so that your stamina will build up at a safe rate. Your physician can also give recommendations on controlling an asthma attack that may be brought on by physical activity. These are known as exercise induced bronchospasms or EIB for short. Most likely your doctor will encourage you to use a quick release inhaler before starting the exercise program.

Keep in mind that any type of exercise program is acceptable whether you have asthma or not. The key is to see your doctor first and have them be aware of what it is you plan to do so that they can incorporate a safe routine that doesn’t start out too fast for your level of fitness. Many asthma patients lead very active lifestyles with all kinds of sports and exercise activities.

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Asthma and Exercise

Camp Provides Safe Summer Fun for Kids With Asthma
Image by Christiana Care via Flickr

Exercise is something that people need to stay healthy. But for people with medical conditions, it’s not so easy to get. When you have asthma, determining the best type of exercise for you can be a very difficult process.

The first step you’ll want to take is to talk to your doctor. Discuss the best types of exercise for your condition. Find out if any changes to your medication could allow you to be more active. If your doctor doesn’t want to change the course of treatment you’re on, find out what types of physical activities would be OK for you to handle.

Exercise comes in a variety of exertion. There are those that take a significant amount of strength and lung power to perform, and then there are those that are easier on our systems. Activities involving short, intermittent periods of exertion are the best types for asthmatic people. These can include volleyball, gymnastics, baseball, and wrestling. Swimming is a good form of exercise for asthmatics because it’s done in a warm, moist air environment. You can also control the speed and distance you swim, and control your breathing easier than in other exercises. Asthmatics can also benefit from easier, low-impact forms of exercise, such as walking, biking, yoga, aerobics, and running.

No matter what your health condition is, you should exercise for about 30 minutes a day four to five times a week. Your doctor can tell you how much exercise is best for you and your condition. To help control your asthma during exercise, you should use your inhaler before beginning your workout, do warm-up and cool-down exercises, exercise indoors if the weather is bad and during allergy season, restrict exercise when you’re sick, and exercise at an appropriate level for you.
If you begin having an asthmatic reaction while exercising, stop and repeat your pre-exercise inhalant. If that makes your symptoms go away, you can resume exercising. If it doesn’t, you should stop what you’re doing, use your inhaler again, and call your doctor for further instructions.

If you plan your routine, you could greatly enjoy the benefits of exercise.

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