Asthma is the Greek work for panting, which is what you do when undergoing a bronchial asthma attack. The chronic lung condition causes your airways to tighten up when you come in contact with an irritant or when you're under physical or emotional stress. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, about 20 million people in the United States have asthma and nearly 9 million of those are children. While exercise often triggers bronchial restriction, you can learn how to manage your symptoms.
Healthy Lifestyle
Maintenance is the key to asthma control, according to MayoClinic.com. Learning how to spot your triggers is one of the key resources you'll learn in asthma management therapy. Maintaining a healthy diet along with regular aerobic exercise will keep your lungs and bronchial airways healthier, leading to fewer attacks. Physical therapy may include walking that starts out slowly for 10 minutes at a time and increases as you regain your health. You may need to exercise primarily indoors when allergy season is rampant. Cold weather is another common asthma trigger, so you may need to wear a face mask when walking outside.
Attention
It's vital that you learn how recognize your personal asthma triggers to know when you need to rely on your medication. Your physical therapist may take you through a round of workout regimens to determine your level of fitness and when your breathing becomes labored or you start wheezing. Keep your medication close and adjust your treatment accordingly. For example, you may do fine while using the treadmill, but have difficulty when using a more complex machine like an elliptical trainer or rowing machine. Stress can trigger an attack, so if you know you have difficulty from certain exercises, you can perform deep breathing routines and use your inhaler prior to starting.
Yoga
Managing stress is an integral part of asthma management. Yoga is one exercise modality you may discover through your physical therapist. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, learning yoga techniques can lower the number of asthma outbreaks you experience. The meditative, calming breathing and poses that make up the practice of yoga also can reduce your need for medication and decrease the severity and duration of your attacks. Slow breathing techniques incorporated in various yoga practices enhance breathing functions and strengthen your respiratory system.
Breathing
Some physical therapy programs include deep breathing exercises in their overall training regimen. Practiced regularly, deep breathing can control the number of attacks you experience while lowering the amount of medication you must rely on. Controlled breathing fills your diaphragm through your nose after which you release the air through your mouth. Deep breathing also can be performed in the midst of a mild asthma attack and can alleviate your symptoms without the use of an inhaler.
