A number of people who have asthma, tend to find exercising more challenging than others. Exercising is a common trigger for asthma side effects.
Some people with asthma may think that not doing any exercise to avoid the pain would be better. Although, undertaking exercise has a multitude of benefits that can really help in easing your asthma.
Some benefits include:
- Higher lung capacity
- Better lung health
- Reduce airway inflammation
- Improved functioning of the immune system
Normally, people who have asthma, start exercising and begin to get out of breath, wheeze and even feel pains and stiffness in the chest.
Throughout this article, we will look to explore factors you should consider if you have asthma and will be exercising.
1. What is the climate and how is the atmosphere?
Contamination, allergens, dry air and temperatures which are quite extreme can really have knock on effects on your asthma. To combat the effects of your asthma, you should avoid exercising in cold and dry atmospheres.
2. Pick the correct type of activity
It may be that you are able to do some activities which don’t have an impact on your asthma. Though, some activities can trigger asthma effects. Activities like long distance running can be quite detrimental for your asthma.
It has been suggested that activities like the below, are great for people with asthma:
- Walking
- Short-distance sprints
- Recreational biking
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Yoga
Walking is great as it is not too strenuous. This in-turn allows you to continue breathing easily. If you are still prone to get asthma side effects, it would be advisable to walk when the air is dry and cool, with warm weather.
Now, looking closely at short-distance sprints, it would be considered suitable for people with asthma. This is because the sprints are short and not strenuous like long distance running.
Recreational biking is an activity which is not considered too strenuous, there are not any significant points that require serious exertion.
Swimming can really compliment people who have asthma. This is due to the development of muscles that are used for relaxing. Swimming expands the lungs to warm, wet air which is unlikely to trigger asthma side effects.
Another non-strenuous and low intensity activity is hiking. A flat gradient would be very suitable for people with asthma.
Yoga can really help you to improve your breathing due to a large part of it involving focus on your breathing. Additionally, yoga is proven to reduce levels of stress. Reduction in stress levels also helps reduce the triggering of asthma symptoms.
3. Don’t push yourself too hard
When you have asthma, it is recommended not to strain your lungs. If you were to push yourself to levels you cannot fully handle, it would most certainly not be too good for your asthma.
4. Start slowly
First and foremost, a suitable warm up should be undertaken. This will help with properly channelling the air that is transferring to your lungs.
Pharmica – one of UK’s trusted online pharmacies, have a range of asthma treatments available. One of the most popular being an inhaler.