How to Use Exercise to Treat Asthma

Many people who have asthma, or parents of children who do, wonder whether they can or should exercise. Asthma is a disease that restricts airflow in and out of the lungs, making it difficult to get enough oxygen. Exercise heightens the body's need for oxygen, so a healthy respiratory system makes physical exercise easier. There are ways to control asthma and improve lung capacity with medication and exercise. Read on to learn more about how to use exercise to treat asthma.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Asthma relief medication to use in emergencies
• Consistent exercise routine
• Physician's diagnosis and recommendations

Treat Asthma With Exercise

1. See your health care practitioner to diagnose your asthma and prescribe any medications before beginning a new exercise routine.
2. Consult with your doctor about the best type and amount of exercise for you. Consider running, swimming or stop-and-start sports, such as baseball or bowling.
3. Choose aerobics or weight-lifting exercises that allow for rest breaks.
4. Try yoga, which is believed to treat asthma through relaxation of the airways.
5. Begin your exercise program slowly and gradually increase your activity and endurance over a fairly long period of time to avoid an asthma attack while exercising.
6. Start a practice of daily gentle stretching, along with any exercise, especially if you have not exercised regularly in a long time. Exercise affects the rest of your body and can place stress on systems other than your respiration. Ask your doctor for suggestions.
7. Maintain your exercise program. Quitting suddenly and becoming sedentary again may greatly increase your risk for asthma attacks. When forced to take it easy, monitor your respiratory health closely.
8. Use any medications specifically suggested by your doctor to alleviate symptoms during exercise before or after you work out. Continue to take all your asthma medication as prescribed.

Tips & Warnings

• Always carry your inhaler with you when you exercise.
• Let the people with whom you exercise know that you have asthma.
• Warm up and cool down before and after exercise to allow your body to readjust.
• There may be environmental triggers to your asthma, in addition to your sensitivity to exercise. Be sure to avoid external triggers while you exercise.
• Exercise alone cannot treat asthma effectively. Use exercise in conjunction with prescribed medication to keep your asthma under control.
• Pool chlorine may trigger asthma for some people. In this case, swimming is not for you.
• Sports with constant, high activity or that take place in extremely cold weather are not good choices for asthmatics.
• If you have an asthma attack and do not respond to medication within a reasonable period of time, go to a hospital emergency room.