Throughout the years of training I’ve come across quite a few clients that have had asthma. For some of us we can remember back to when you were in elementary school and some kids would not have to run the 1-mile test because they had asthma. For others, asthma must be dealt with on a daily basis. Asthma can be a result of pollutants or seasonal allergens or as a result of exercise. Asthma is a disorder that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing (1). I’ll first give a brief overview of the symptoms and treatment of asthma and then show you how exercise can help.
The most stereotypical symptoms of asthma are wheezing, coughing and tightening of the chest and airways (1). When symptoms arise then bronchodilators, or inhalers, are used for fast acting relief. A person with asthma should have an action plan consisting of: emergency contact information, list of known triggers, severity of your symptoms and when to seek medical help and of course carry your inhaler.
Exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) or exercise induced asthma is different then chronic asthma mentioned previously in that the airway obstruction that occurs in association with exercise is without regard to the presence of chronic asthma (2). The shortened version of why this occurs is that during regular breathing the air breathed in came be warmed and humidified at a rate that the body can handle. When exercise becomes strenuous the air can no longer be warmed and humidified because breathing has increased. This causes changes at the lung level that triggers a response, which is known as asthma (2).
So, how do you exercise is if you experience these symptoms? The good news is that previous people exercising with asthma have experienced increases in exercise capacity, and symptom free days over those that did not exercise (3). To receive the benefits of exercise here are some guidelines to follow (4):
1) Always have your medication handy or nearby. If your doctor has prescribed that you use an inhaler before exercise, do it.
2) Extend your warm up. Increase your warm to 10-15 minutes to allow for the airways to retain normal size.
3) Increase your cool down time. This is the second most common time to experience asthma. By gradually cooling down you will reduce your risk.
4) Exercise in a warm humid environment. Try to avoid pollen and other pollutants. An indoor pool is an excellent way to exercise and reduce your risk.
5) Keep hydrated. This will reduce mucous buildup and prevent an infection.
6) Inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Make your breathing purposeful.
7) Listen to your body. If it needs to rest or slow down, do it.
Don’t let asthma get you down. Keep active and enjoy all the benefits of exercise!
For a more comprehensive summary of asthma please visit PubMed Health.
1) Asthma. (2011). In A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia online. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001196/.
2) Dryden DM, Spooner CH, Stickland MK, Vandermeer B, Tjosvold L, Bialy L, Wong K, Rowe BH. Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction and Asthma. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 189 (Prepared by the University of Alberta Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-2007-10021-I) AHRQ Publication No. 10-E001. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. January 2010 (Web site posting); revised March 2010.
3) Neale, T. (2011). Aerobic exercise good for asthma patients. Medpage Today. Retrieved from http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/CHEST/29257?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&eun=g258129d0r&userid=258129&email=brentrhartman@gmail.com&mu_id=.
4) Exercise and Asthma. (n.d.). American Council on Exercise. Retrieved from http://www.acefitness.org/fitfacts/fitfacts_display.aspx?itemid=2594&category=4.
5) Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net <p><a href=”http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2125″>Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></p>
