Exercising With Asthma
Asthma can make it very difficult to exercise. Strenuous physical activity can make it difficult to breathe. Depending on the severity of your asthma, you may need to use exercises that are less likely to leave you short of breath.
Preventing An Asthma Attack When Exercising
One of the challenges of asthma is that your lungs will be more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. Therefore, it is best to exercise when the weather is more moderate. Try to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Your noise helps moisten the air that you breathe in, which can reduce the risk that you will suffer from an asthma attack. If you have not exercised in awhile, it is a good idea to try an exercise that is not difficult until you are able to work your way up to more strenuous exercises. Otherwise, you will be more likely to trigger an asthma attack.
Walking
Walking is one of the best exercises and is very easy to do. Those who walk briskly three times a week experience lower asthma symptoms. Before walking briskly, it is important to warm up by walking more moderately because this will allow you to build up a tolerance.
Swimming
Swimming, and exercise near water in general, is great for those who are suffering from asthma. The air near water is moist and can soothe the bronchial passages. Swimming is also a great physical activity.
Handling Asthma Symptoms
When you do suffer from difficulties with your asthma, you will most likely experience asthma after you have stopped exercising. You may then experience wheezing and tightness of the chest. If you sit down and relax for a few minutes, the experience will likely subside. The good news is that, unlike with triggers of asthma, the effects that exercise has on your asthma will usually be brief. If you are a serious athlete, but you suffer from asthma, it may make sense to take medications to block the effects of asthma before a serious performance.
If you are still struggling to exercise while suffering from asthma, it may be time to schedule an appointment to an asthma doctor. You may need more advanced medical treatments in order to get your asthma under control. Your doctor may also be able to assist you in determining the form of exercise that would be the most appropriate for you. Contact a clinic like North Texas Allergy to learn more.