Exercising with asthma: All you should know

For people with asthma, the effect that exercise can have on the condition is an important consideration, but asthma doesn’t need to stop you from living a healthy lifestyle. In fact, exercise can be an important part of managing symptoms if done mindfully and with efforts to ensure it doesn’t have a negative impact.

If you have asthma, you might be less likely to take part in physical activity, possibly due to concern about worsening your symptoms, but exercise is important for everyone, and it can actually have some benefit if you have asthma.

Can exercise help asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung condition in which the airways of the lungs become inflamed. When these tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs become swollen due to inflammation, it can make it difficult to breathe. 

Physical activity can sometimes cause flare-ups of symptoms, so people with asthma might be more likely to avoid exercise altogether. A higher weight puts more strain on the body, including the lungs, and those with a higher body mass index (BMI) tend to have higher rates of inflammation in the body.

But exercise is an important part of your overall health, including lung health. Exercise can improve lung capacity, as well as blood flow to the lungs and heart, which is especially important for those with asthma.

In addition, exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight. Research has found a direct link between weight and asthma, with people with obesity developing asthma at higher rates and experiencing stronger symptoms. 

People with asthma shouldn’t feel limited in the types of exercise they can try. That said, there are certain types of exercise that have been shown to be more asthma-friendly. 

Research has shown that swimming, for example, is an excellent cardiovascular exercise that can improve asthma symptoms due to increased exposure to moist, warm air and limited exposure to pollen — particularly in young people.

However, the study notes that concerns exist about chlorine exposure in indoor pools, so caution is advised.

Team sports, such as baseball or volleyball, that incorporate pauses in activity can also be good for the lungs, which benefit from breaks now and then.

Walking and hiking can be gentle ways to incorporate exercise daily — just be sure to check the air quality and pollen count. If those are triggers for you, you could try wearing a mask or scarf. 

Yoga is another gentle exercise with multiple benefits for people with asthma. Not only does it improve overall strength and flexibility, but it also features breathing exercises and stress-relieving practices, which can have a positive impact on asthma symptoms.

More important even than the type of exercise is how you exercise. This includes paying close attention to your body and taking precautions, before, during, and after exercise. The American Lung Association recommends the following: 

• speak with a doctor about any activities to avoid or medications that can be taken before you exercise 
• warm up before exercise
• if exercising outside in cold temperatures, wear a scarf over your nose and mouth
• limit or avoid exercising outdoors when the air quality is poor, or the pollen count is high
• cool down after exercise

If you feel pain or tightness in the chest, develop a cough, or become short of breath, stop the activity. Take a quick-relief inhaler and use belly breathing to relax. Children should be advised to alert an adult as soon as they feel symptoms.

Having asthma means that you should pay close attention to your body during exercise and take measures to prevent flare-ups, but your condition does not need to stop you from exercising. 

Can exercise make asthma worse? 

People with exercise-induced asthma experience shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, or coughing only when doing physically demanding tasks. A healthcare professional can help you determine if you have exercise-induced asthma. 

People with this form of asthma can still exercise but need to develop a special action plan with a doctor. That plan could include adding a daily controller medication, such as montelukast sodium (Singulair), to manage symptoms and avoid an attack. 

These medications usually have steroids in them to reduce inflammation and are taken every day as a prevention measure.  

People with asthma should keep in mind that the lungs tend to do better with intermittent breaks. Long-distance running may be harder for those with poorly controlled asthma because the activity is continuous. 

In addition, sports done outdoors in cold weather may also be more difficult if you have asthma, if cold, dry air is one of your triggers. 

How long after an attack can you exercise?

An asthma attack, or a flare-up of your symptoms that’s often sudden, can be scary.

The recovery time depends on the strength of the attack, and it can also vary for each person. It’s best to discuss with a doctor when it’s safe to resume activities, what type of activities may be best, and if there needs to be a change to your medication.

Generally, an attack is a sign that you may need a better asthma action plan, including revisiting your medication with a healthcare professional and learning more about your triggers. 

Other asthma treatments

Medical treatments for asthma include both short-acting, quick-response medication and longer-term control medication. 

During an attack, either oral steroids or short-acting beta2-agonists (SABAs), such as formoterol (Perforomist), which is a combination inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and SABA, and vilanterol (Breo Ellipta), can be taken, depending on the severity of the attack. 

There are other preventive medications that help to manage asthma symptoms on a daily basis, including corticosteroids, such as budesonide (Symbicort), a combination ICS and SABA, and mast cell stabilizers like cromolyn.

Bronchial thermoplasty, which applies heat to the airway muscles, can also help to improve the lung condition of people with asthma.  

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Summary

If you have asthma, you should not feel limited in your ability to exercise. In fact, exercise can be a helpful way to manage symptoms and even improve lung function for people with asthma.

With an ongoing asthma action plan, created in partnership with a doctor, you can participate in a host of physical activities. Know your triggers, be mindful of your body, and be sure to have quick-response and control medication on hand, if necessary.

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