For nearly the millions of Americans living with asthma, the thought of exercise can feel daunting. Concerns about triggering an asthma attack might tempt you to skip the gym and stay home instead. However, with the right approach and management, exercise doesn’t just become possible – it can also significantly enhance your quality of life. 

Understanding Asthma and Exercise

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and constricts the airways, making breathing difficult during flare-ups. While exercise can trigger these symptoms, regular physical activity also provides many benefits for those living with asthma.

• Stronger Lungs: Regular exercise strengthens your respiratory muscles, allowing you to breathe more efficiently and with greater capacity.
• Reduced Attack Frequency: Regular exercise can also lead to fewer and milder asthma attacks.
• Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight can significantly improve asthma control. 

However, it is important to remember that these benefits come when coupled with proper management. If you notice signs of an asthma flare-up, such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing and/or wheezing, it should be taken as a sign to deescalate your intensity and address symptoms.

Choosing the Right Activities

Not all exercises are created equal when it comes to asthma. The key is finding activities that allow you to stay active without overexerting your lungs.

Low-intensity activities, like walking, hiking and cycling, are excellent ways to stay active, allowing you to more easily control your breathing and pace, reducing the likelihood of an asthma attack.

Swimming is often recommended for people with asthma as it involves breathing warm, moist air, which is less likely to trigger asthma symptoms. The buoyancy of the water also minimizes stress on the body and joints, making it a gentle yet effective workout.

Finally, yoga not only helps improve flexibility and reduce stress. Its focus on breathing techniques also helps you gain better control over your breathing.

Preparing to Exercise

Before jumping into a new exercise routine, it’s important to ensure your asthma is well-managed and that you’re prepared to handle any symptoms that might arise.

1. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new exercise regimen. They can adjust your asthma action plan and medications as needed to better accommodate increased physical activity.
2. Gradually easing into and out of exercise helps prevent sudden changes in breathing rates, which can trigger asthma symptoms.
3. Always have your rescue inhaler close by when exercising. This is crucial for managing symptoms if they arise.
4. Outdoor exercise is beneficial, but it’s important to stay aware of air quality. Pollen, pollution and cold air can trigger asthma symptoms, so consider indoor activities when air quality is poor.

Start slowly and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts as your fitness improves, and your asthma becomes better managed. This gradual progression can help minimize the risk of asthma symptoms.

Don’t sweat your asthma symptoms! 

We’re ready to help you work out your asthma and allergy challenges! Family Allergy & Asthma’s trusted allergy specialists are always ready to guide patients toward relief. With locations across the region, allergy relief is always close to home. Contact us today to schedule your allergy appointment.

About Family Allergy & Asthma

Founded in 1979, Family Allergy & Asthma’s practice network of allergy and asthma specialists provides high-quality, reliable and lasting allergy relief throughout Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, and includes affiliates Allergy & Asthma Specialists (AAS), Asthma and Allergy Associates of Florida (AAAF) and Arkansas Allergy and Asthma Clinic (AAAC). For more information, visit familyallergy.com, and follow Family Allergy & Asthma on Facebook, Instagram and X.