Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects your airways and breathing that can strike at any age, but generally develops in childhood. The National Institutes of Health, or NIH, report that more than 22 million people in the United States have asthma. Exercise-induced asthma occurs when symptoms of asthma are triggered by exercise.
About
The symptoms of exercise-induced asthma include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. These symptoms can occur soon after you start exercising or stop exercising. Exercise-induced asthma should not deter you from exercise, according to Medline Plus, a medical information resource from the National Institutes of Health. Taking proper precautions and following your doctor's instructions can help you safely exercise with asthma. Visit with your doctor if you are not sure if you have asthma and suffer from these symptoms when you exercise.
Recommendations
Medline Plus reports that where exercising in cold or dry air may trigger your asthma, breathing through your nose or wearing a scarf over your mouth can help prevent those exercise-induced asthma symptoms. Avoid exercising in polluted air, when pollen counts are high, or near fields or lawns that have just been mowed. A warm-up and cool-down before and after your exercise session may also help to ease asthma symptoms. Activities that require you to move fast for an extended period of time are more likely to trigger your asthma symptoms, but making sure you warm-up properly then slowly building up to the point of intensity can help.
Treatment
Your doctor can help you develop a treatment plan for your exercise-induced asthma. Depending on your specific condition, and if your asthma has additional triggers, your doctor may prescribe controller medications that are taken regularly. Your doctor also may prescribe an inhaler that can quickly reduce symptoms of exercise-induced asthma. Having a treatment plan in place and taking proper precautions can help you safely participate in most types of physical activity and exercise.
Considerations
Swimming is often indicated for exercise-induced asthma because the warm, moist air can help to keep away asthma symptoms. Medline Plus also reports that activities and sports that include some rest periods, including football and baseball, are less likely to trigger asthma symptoms. Parents of school-aged children with exercise-induced asthma should notify coaches, teachers and the school nurse of your child's condition and exercise-induced asthma plan, according to the NIH's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
References
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: Asthma
- Medline Plus: Exercise-induced Asthma
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Tips to Remember: Asthma and Exercise
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: Breathing Difficulties Related to Physical Activity for Students With Asthma: Exercise-Induced Asthma
