An exercise-induced asthma attack can occur during or right after you've exerted yourself. Every asthmatic has her own triggers, but exercising in cool, dry air can often cause the airways to tighten up and spasm. Asthmatics should not avoid exercise, however. You can keep physically fit through swimming with a few minor precautions.
Why Attacks Happen
Exercise increases your body's need for oxygen. It's a natural reflex to begin pulling air into your lungs through your mouth when this happens. But this is exactly what asthma sufferers should not do. When you breathe through your mouth rather than your nose, you don't give your nostrils the opportunity to warm up the air and moisten it before it reaches your airways. This can trigger an attack.
Risk Factors
Attempting any exercise if your asthma condition is not under control is risky. If you are not under a doctor's care, you should be, whether you intend to take up swimming or any other sport. Additionally, when sweat and saliva mingle with chlorinated pool water, chemicals are produced that are harmful to sensitive airways and bronchial tubes. Swimming in a highly chlorinated pool or without showering before entering the pool increases an asthmatic's chances of having an attack.
Advantages
Swimming is still one of the best exercises for asthmatics because it usually involves warm, humid air. If you breathe through your mouth while swimming, the air is less likely to inflame your airways and trigger an attack. You have the advantage of exercising your upper body and your lungs with minimized risk. According to a web page on University of New Mexico's website, aquatic exercise rarely contributes to asthma attacks.
Recommendations
Just because swimming is not as likely to instigate an exercise-induced asthma attack as running or skiing, this doesn't mean you shouldn't take precautions. Keep your inhaler nearby and within grabbing distance, at the pool's edge, if possible. If your doctor has you on medication, ask him whether you might benefit from taking a dose ahead of time to help prevent an attack. Always warm up before hitting the pool, and cool off gradually after your exercise. Paddle or tread water for a while before you leave the pool. If you do have an attack and your inhaler is not nearby, ask someone else to go get it for you. Don't run off alone to find it. Remain with people who can assist you if the attack gets worse.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Asthma Attacks
- Canadian Lung Association: Asthma
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Tips to Remember --- Asthma and Exercise
- The University of New Mexico; Exercise-Induced Asthma; Mariana Shedden, M.S. and Len Kravitz; Ph.D.
- "Reuters"; Infant Swimming Tied to Asthma; Amy Norton; Jan. 26, 2010
