Exercise is a common trigger for asthma symptoms. Many people with asthma may experience difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness during or after exercise.
Most people with asthma can successfully do their chosen workout with good guidance and treatment. Exercise has been shown to benefit all people, including those with asthma.
Lately in Cyprus, we have been getting a lot of dust storms from the surrounding deserts!
Many people that suffer from asthma may experience the following;
- Difficulty in breathing
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Heavy coughing
First things first, what types of asthma do we see?
- Adult onset asthma comes with age and can be diagnosed by testing.
- Allergic Asthma dust, respiratory infections, drug and food additives and weather conditions.
- Exercise Induced Asthma – difficulty breathing during exercise, coughing during exercise exertion.
- Non-allergic Asthma – extreme weather (hot or cold weather conditions), stress, infections.
- Occupational Asthma – working around certain chemicals, animals, insects or any other factors related to your work environment.
The most common questions about asthma are:
1: Can I exercise with asthma?
Yes, you can exercise with asthma as long as you are in good and close relation with your lung specialist and know your limitations.
Activities that involve short, intermittent periods of exertion are better than long and intense periods (soccer, long distance running, and sprints)
2: Can asthma go away if I exercise?
90% of people suffering from asthma will get asthma when exercising. It will not go away but can be controlled with the correct medications pre and after exercise.
3: What’s the best exercise for asthma patients?
Swimming is usually the best exercise for asthmatics. Breathing cold air will irritate the lungs compared to when u breathe warm air while swimming which doesn’t irritate them, so there are no triggering the symptoms.
4: Can asthma make you feel tired?
Yes, it can make you feel tired as your body is working much harder to provide the necessary amount of oxygen.
Once you have an asthma flare-up, you will feel exhausted.
It’s best to avoid exercising if there is a lot of dust or any other factors that trigger your asthma, such as allergies, cold weather or extreme heat.
Always consult your physician to be up-to-date with your medications.
Keep Fit and Healthy,
Andreas Nearchou
B.A. M.Sc Kinesiology
Instagram➡ iamtheshaper