The breathing problems that accompany asthma may make you feel weak and tired and your chest tight whenever you try to go for a walk. But you don't have to let the fear of an asthma attack keep you from exercising. As long as your asthma is under control, you can maintain an active lifestyle that will also help you keep your body in shape.
Identification
If you have asthma, the tubes that carry oxygen into and out of your lungs become inflamed, swollen and narrowed and produce extra mucus. This makes it harder for you to breathe and can also lead to wheezing and coughing. The cause of asthma is unknown, but as MayoClinic.com notes, the condition is likely due to a combination of environmental and inherited factors.
Significance
Asthma is a chronic disease that the National Institutes of Health says affects more than 22 million people in the U.S. In mild cases, you may have no or infrequent asthma attacks, but if you have a severe case, an asthma attack could become life-threatening. You may also have what's known as exercise-induced asthma, which occurs with physical activity such as walking and may begin during exercise and stop afterward or continue for several hours. It's estimated that 80 to 90 percent of all people with allergic asthma will experience symptoms of exercise-induced asthma upon vigorous exercise or activity, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Expert Insight
In a study published in the journal "Chest," Teal S. Hallstrand, M.D., and colleagues at the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Washington compared patients with mild intermittent asthma to a control group in a 10-week aerobic conditioning program. They found that aerobic fitness in both asthmatic and nonasthmatic participants was significantly improved, and the asthma patients also had additional benefits of improved ventilatory capacity and decreased hyperpnea, or abnormal increase in depth and rate of respiration.
Recommendations
With proper treatment and management, you can safely participate in exercise if you have asthma or even exercise-induced asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. In fact, many Olympic athletes have been asthmatic. The foundation recommends taking medication prior to exercise and also warming up to six to 10 minutes before starting your walk.
The American Council on Fitness adds that as tolerance for physical exertion is built up over time, it's less likely you'll experience an asthma attack during exercise. The council suggests you begin toward the lower end of your target heart rate while walking, avoid walking in a polluted environment or in cold or dry air and extend your cool-down period after your walk.
Warning
It's important that you consult with your health care provider prior to beginning any exercise program. The Canadian Lung Association warns that if you experience weakness or shortness of breath while walking, you should stop, sit up and wait a few minutes to see if your symptoms improve. If so, warm up again and slowly return to exercising. If your symptoms don't improve, or if you feel a full-blown asthma attack coming on, use your rescue inhaler and call 911 if necessary.
