Asthma is a respiratory condition that causes the airways to constrict, decreasing your ability to breathe. It can affect you to various degrees -- you may only experience slight difficulty when breathing, or you could suffer from complete constriction that almost entirely prevents you from breathing. Asthma is a life-threatening condition if not properly treated, and it can make exercise like jogging more intimidating and tougher to enjoy. Take a few precautions to manage asthma so you can exercise without significant risks to your health.
Step 1
Drink plenty of water leading up to a jog. Dehydration can dry out your airways and increase your risk of an asthma attack, according to Roadrunner Sports.
Step 2
Start jogging only when you're not experiencing symptoms of an asthma attack. If your asthma is acting up before exercise, going for a run will only worsen your condition and put you at greater risk.
Step 3
Pack a rescue inhaler with you on any jog. Place the inhaler in a shorts or shirt pocket. If an asthma attack strikes, the inhaler may be what saves your life.
Step 4
Take medications as needed prior to exercise. Depending on the severity of your asthma, your doctor may prescribe daily medications for you. You might also be encouraged to use your inhaler once 15 minutes prior to exercise, according to the Lung Association. Follow your doctor's guidelines closely leading up to a jog.
Step 5
Use warmup and cool-down activities to avoid any abrupt changes to your breathing. Quickly increasing your breathing rate, or stopping abruptly after exercise, could trigger an asthma attack. Walk or jog slowly to warm up and cool down.
Tips and Warnings
- If allergens like pollen are triggers for your asthma, avoid running outside when the pollen count is high. This increases your risk of suffering an asthma attack. Roadrunner Sports recommends running in warm, humid weather whenever possible -- this environment is least agitating to your lungs and your asthma.
