Starting a fitness program can be tough --- but it shouldn't be painful. If you are experiencing painful breathing after exercising, there is something wrong and you need to evaluate your health and your fitness program. Consult your doctor, particularly if your breathing is severely painful or difficult, because this could be a sign of a heart attack.
Pollution
If you exercise outside, pollution could be the source of your breathing problems. You might be breathing in car exhaust, soot, construction dust, diesel, factory fumes, and very small amounts of ozone and mercury. This pollution can slow you down and makes it more difficult to breathe because it inflames your lungs, Kenneth Rundell, director of the Human Physiology Laboratory at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, tells "Fitness" magazine. Besides causing painful breathing, the pollution can increase your chances of heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure and asthma. In fact, pollution can even cancel out the positive effects exercise has on your lungs. The only way to avoid this is to take your exercise indoors. If you must exercise outside, try to find a park or quiet area instead of running along a busy road.
Asthma
If you are having difficulty breathing or experiencing pain in your chest during or after exercising, you mkght have exercise-induced asthma. Asthma causes swelling that makes your airways become narrow. It is not, as of 2011, curable, but your doctor can usually help you manage the symptoms. For those with exercise-induced asthma, symptoms are usually worse in cold and dry conditions.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction
Vocal cord dysfunction has many similar symptoms to asthma, including painful or difficult breathing. Because of this, it is often misdiagnosed and treated as asthma. However, MayoClinic.com explains, vocal cord dysfunction involves tightening of the vocal cord muscles, which makes breathing difficult. The main difference with asthma is that vocal cord dysfunction makes it more difficult to breath in than out. Symptoms can be triggered by exercise, so you should talk to your doctor if you think you suffer from this condition.
Intensity
Exercise shouldn't be painful. If your breathing is painful, you might be pushing yourself too hard. Slow down and start with an easier workout. Over time, you will become more fit and be able to push yourself to a higher intensity without painful breathing. Monitor your heart rate to make sure you are working out at the proper intensity. Find your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220. If you are engaging in vigorous exercise, aim to keep your heart rate between 70 and 85 percent of that number.
References
- "Fitness" magazine; The Dirty Secret of Outdoor Exercise; Karen Houppert; April 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Asthma; May 27, 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Vocal Cord Dysfunction: Is it a Type of Asthma?; James T. Li, M.D.; Sept. 11, 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Exercise Intensity: Why It Matters, How It's Measured; March 5, 2011
