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Asthma Doesn’t Have to Stop You from Exercising

By Nancy Harris, MD, Fort HealthCare Fort Atkinson Family Practice

When you have asthma, it’s hard to weigh the health benefits of exercise against the fear of having an attack. But if you take the right precautions, not only is exercise safe—it also may improve your condition.

Asthma is commonly a chronic problem. And exercise is a common trigger of asthma attacks. But there’s also a temporary form of asthma that causes wheezing and other symptoms only during and after exercise. This is called exercise-induced asthma, and it affects both children and adults.

With treatment, 90 percent of people with exerciseinduced asthma can control their symptoms and enjoy vigorous exercise. Even people with severe, chronic asthma can be active and play sports, as long as they take some precautions. Research shows that exercise may even help you avoid attacks and miss less time from work or school.

To work out safely, start by getting your doctor’s OK. Then, adhere to the following tactics:

• Pick asthma-friendly activities. Swimming is good because warm, moist air helps prevent attacks. In contrast, sports performed in cold, dry air—such as hockey—are more likely to cause problems. So, too, are sports that involve constant activity, such as basketball and long-distance running. Instead, consider tennis, golf or karate. And, if you do exercise in cold, dry air, cover your mouth and nose with a face mask. This will warm and moisten the air you breathe.
• Follow your doctor’s medication orders. If your asthma occurs only during exercise, you just may need to take a quick-acting medicine before exercising.
• Warm up and cool down with 10 to 15 minutes of light activity. This helps prevent an attack by allowing your airways to gradually adjust.
• When you work out, bring your quick-relief inhaler in case you have an attack. Rest if you start to cough or wheeze. Use your inhaler at the first sign of trouble.