In the past, people with asthma avoided most physical activity, in part because vigorous exercise can trigger an asthma episode. But with today’s asthma treatment, most everyday activity, and even all-out exercise, won’t get in the way of your good health. The bottom line: exercise is great for the heart, lungs, and overall health (not to mention your love handles), even if you have asthma.

Once your asthma is under control, you can expect to be just as active as you were before being diagnosed. The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program says that the goal of asthma therapy is to maintain your normal activity levels, including exercise, if that’s part of your day-to-day routine.

But what, exactly, is “normal”?

If you’re already a triathlete, then your benchmark for normal will be higher than others. Then again, maybe your idea of normal activity is mowing the lawn for an hour, or keeping up with the kids at the playground. In any case, the key to maintaining “normal activity levels” is communication with your health care provider.

Tell your doctor your personal definition of normal activity, and together you can set realistic goals. In any case, everyday activities like grocery shopping, mowing the lawn, climbing an average flight of stairs, or walking the kids to school should not trigger an asthma episode. If they do, your asthma management plan may need to be reevaluated.

What about sports and vigorous exercise?

Maybe you’d like to shed a few pounds, start working out, or take up the sport you quit when asthma first began affecting you. Good! The days when people with asthma were stuck on the sidelines are over. Still, a careful approach is just plain sensible.

Talk to your health care provider. Your doctor may prescribe a short-acting inhaler to use before your workout. But an inhaler is no substitute for good sense. If pollen is a trigger for you, you should probably avoid jogging next to a field of weeds. If dust sets you off, don’t clean the attic before you go to dance class.

The American Medical Association (AMA) notes that building up the intensity of your workout little by little can help you avoid an asthma episode. A lengthy warm-up before exercise may also reduce the chances of an exercise-induced episode, according to the AMA.

Beware of environmental conditions

Environmental factors (indoors and out) can affect how your body can handle daily activity and casual exercise, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. These environmental factors can include:

• Air temperature (especially cold)
• Air humidity (especially dry)
• Airborne asthma triggers (pollen, dust, ozone)
• Mouth breathing
• Dehydration

When environmental conditions are less than ideal, pay closer attention to how your body is handling your activity. Carrying your inhaler with you is good advice anytime. It’s especially important when environmental conditions are bad. Breathe through your nose as much as possible. Your nose is a built-in air conditioner, warming and humidifying air before it reaches your lungs.

And always be sure to drink plenty of water. Even seasoned athletes are affected by dehydration. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, more if you exercise vigorously.

Remember: the National Institutes of Health says your participation in physical activities should not be limited by asthma, so work with your doctor to get your asthma under control.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 at 10:03 am and is filed under Adult Asthma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.