Exercise and Asthma: Facts You Should Know

If you have asthma or know someone who does, it is possible you may have heard that you should avoid exercising. This is one of the most common asthma myths that prevents many people who have been diagnosed with this breathing condition from improving their health by working out. They may think that exercising can make their asthma worse when that’s not the case.

Exercise Helps Control Asthma

Asthma is caused by the swelling of airways that reduces the amount of air that can be breathed in, causing symptoms like tightness in the chest, coughing, and wheezing. Asthma symptoms like these can be easily and effectively controlled through treatment that aims to reduce swelling over time and reduce the chances of asthma attacks. While exercise may not be able to reduce the swelling, it can still be helpful as long as the prescribed asthma treatment is followed and symptoms are under control.

Studies have shown that exercise helps in improving your quality of life as you become fitter and also bring asthma symptoms under control. For young people with asthma, swimming has also been shown to improve the functioning of the lungs. Improving your cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), which includes your heart and lung health, can also reduce the risk of developing dyspnea - a condition that causes shortness of breath that can sometimes be mistaken for asthma.

However, in general, there is nothing so far that shows that one form of physical activity is more beneficial to those with asthma compared to another. 

Exercise-Induced Asthma

Exercise-induced asthma, now more commonly called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), refers to the narrowing of airways that happens as a result of exercise. EIB is a condition that can occur even in people who have not been diagnosed with asthma. Its symptoms can be similar to asthma symptoms and include chest tightness, cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. But these symptoms are usually only caused due to exercising and EIB can only be confirmed through a test that measures the change in lung function before and after exercise.

But even if you do have EIB, it can still be brought under control so you can still exercise. In fact, EIB can be found in athletes at all levels. Studies have shown 30-70% of Olympic or elite-level athletes to have EIB, depending on the population studied and the methods used for research. 

Treatment of EIB can include taking quick-acting medication a few minutes before exercising or long-term treatment of controller medication, depending on your condition. Apart from medication, here are some other steps you can take to manage EIB:

• Warm-up before your regular exercise

• If you are exercising in cold weather, wear a mask or covering that can warm and humidify the air you inhale as you work out

• Lower the salt intake in your diet

• Include fish oils and ascorbic acid in your diet

These are just some of the methods recommended that can be used in addition to the EIB treatment and may have only minimal effects.

So if you have asthma, don’t believe in the asthma myth of exercise being harmful and don’t hesitate to work out. Consult your doctor if you experience any symptoms of EIB so it can be controlled and you can continue with exercise that can improve your health.

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