QUALITY LIVING - Q&A to Asthma and Sport   Home | Asthma Assistant | Glossary | Disclaimer   Is it Asthma | Society & Self | Take Control | Treatment or Cure | Quality Living

Is it good to exercise if you suffer from asthma? Yes! Exercise is very good for you, whether you have asthma or not, as long as you take the correct precautions. Exercise is fun and helps your general well-being. With the current treatments available you should be able to participate in almost any sport you wish. Only some people with more severe asthma will find they cannot participate in sport. If you find your asthma is beginning to restrict your exercise when it did not in the past, make sure to see your doctor: it may be a sign your asthma is getting worse. Which is the best sport for people with asthma to do? The best sport for you is one which is safe and you enjoy doing. If your asthma is well controlled and not severe, you should be able to do any exercise you wish. If you are unsure, discuss different options with your doctor or nurse. Always let you instructor (if you have one!) know you have asthma . Some sports more suited to people with asthma which you might like to consider are listed below:   T'ai Chi or Yoga These are both relaxing forms of exercise. They are enjoyable, can be started at any age and have the added benefit of being complementary therapies as well. You can find out more about these in Complementary Therapies.   Swimming This is generally a very good sport for people with asthma. The warm, humid air seems to irritate the airways less. Watch out though, for very cold water or high chlorine levels which can trigger off symptoms!   Team Games These can be a good idea. Team games often give you short breaks which is useful as longer spells of exercise are more likely to bring on symptoms than shorter ones! Are there any sports I should avoid? There are some sports which have a higher risk for people with asthma. Sports you should be careful of include:   Scuba Diving If you have asthma it does not mean you cannot dive. However, it is essential that your asthma is well controlled or the risks associated with diving are much greater. You must have a proper medical carried out by a doctor with experience in diving to make sure you are well enough.   High Altitude Sports Sports done at high altitude such as skiing, hiking or Mountaineering. One of the biggest difficulties encountered at high altitude is that medical facilities are often sparse and poorly equipped. In addition, the cold dry and 'thinner' air can be a problem for some people with asthma. It is very important to ensure your asthma is well controlled before embarking on a high altitude sport. You should also make sure to have plenty medication and an emergency action plan from your doctor before you go. When should I be particularly careful? Consider the following when you are planning your sport or exercise: (1) Many people find that cold, dry weather makes them worse. Outdoor sports like running in such weather is not a good idea. (2) If pollen is one of your triggers, be cautious of outdoor sports when the pollen count is high. (3) If you develop a cold or chest infection, be cautious with any exercise. Your airways will be extra sensitive during this time, even before you begin exercise. Why does sport bring on my asthma symptoms? Exercise is a very common trigger for asthma symptoms. About 70 to 80% of people with asthma find their symptoms are triggered by exercise. If you have asthma, the lining of your airways is inflamed and irritable. This makes them very sensitive to changes in the humidity, temperature and particles in the air, as well as the air flowing along the airways. The exact reason why exercise brings on asthma symptoms is unknown. It is thought that the increase in airflow, particularly if it is cold dry air, sets off changes in the lungs which make them narrow. Can I prevent my symptoms from coming on? There are a number of things you can do to help prevent your symptoms from coming on:   Use Your Preventer Regularly If you use a preventer, make sure you continue to take it regularly each day. This will keep down the inflammation in your lungs and make them less irritable. You can find out more about preventers in the page Conventional Medications for Asthma.   Use Your Reliever Pre-Exercise You can take two puffs of your immediate reliever just before exercise to help stop symptoms from coming on. If you still get symptoms with exercise, it is quite safe to use it again, but this may be a sign that your asthma is not too well controlled and is worth discussing with your doctor or nurse. You can also use sodium cromoglycate (Intal) to help prevent symptoms coming on, but it must be used about 30 minutes before you begin exercising to have any benefit. Sodium cromoglycate is also no good at relieving symptoms once they have come on with exercise.   Warm Up Make sure you warm up before you exercise. This should always be done properly as it can help prevent an asthma attack as well as injuries.

Topic "Quality Living" Updated 14th August 2003

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