How to Stay Active and Healthy with Asthma?

Inhale, exhale. We do both involuntarily, around the clock, every day of our lives. For those with asthma, a chronic lung condition, the very act of breathing can be frustrating and sometimes scary – especially for kids.

Asthma can be a scary condition requiring lifelong care. However, it doesn’t mean that you have to give up fun and participating in physical activities.

Avoiding Asthma Triggers

If you have asthma, you know this results in shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and tightness in the chest. Hence you should know what triggers your asthma and learn how to avoid those triggers. Common asthma triggers include:

• Intense or heavy exercise
• Cold weather
• High humidity
• Allergens or irritants in the air
• Strong emotions, like laughing, crying, or shouting
• Respiratory illness

Exercise is considered as one of the most common causes of asthma attacks, but it doesn’t mean that people with asthma should not exercise. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

Importance of Exercise Despite Asthma

Exercise is a part of maintaining your health and it is not an exclusion for care of asthma. In fact, exercise has physical, mental, and social benefits, including:

• Boosting your immune system
• Improving mental health
• Weight loss or maintain good weight which can reduce chances of asthma attacks
• Improving lung capacity

How to exercise safely when you have asthma

Being an asthma patient, you should consult your pulmonologist before starting any exercises. Get help build an exercise plan that will work for you.

If you have severe asthma, focus on short-burst exertion, which includes certain sports and activities. These activities are safer because they allow the lungs time to recover before the next burst of exertion. Short-burst activities include:

• Hiking
• Swimming
• Biking
• Baseball
• Walking
• Volleyball

You should do most exercising activities in a moderate weather, as very cold weather can exacerbate asthma symptoms and increase your chances of an attack. It’s often a matter of balancing your medication and listening to your body.

If you’d like to learn how to be more active even with your asthma, consultation a pulmonologist nearby.