Asthma and exercise

Questions 

Is it good for people with asthma to exercise?

Exercise is good for you. So why can it cause asthma symptoms?

How do I know if I have exercise-induced asthma?

How can I avoid exercise-induced asthma?

Are some kind of physical activities more suitable for people with asthma?

How intensively do I dare to exercise?

I often feel my asthma when I jog. Do I have to quit jogging?

What should I do if I get asthma symptoms while exercising?

Can I take asthma medications and still take part in competitive sports?

Answers to your questions

Is it good for people with asthma to exercise?

Yes. Even though physical exercise is a common trigger of asthma symptoms, it is just as important for people with asthma to exercise as for anyone else. Keep in mind that it takes time to get in shape and you lose fitness quickly when you stop exercising regularly.

With the right medication, most people with asthma will be able to do some kind of physical exercise, many will feel no restrictions, and some will only react to exercise in combination with other triggers.

Exercise is good for you. So why can it cause asthma symptoms?

Normally, the airways are moist and warm, but during exercise they are exposed to large amounts of dry, cool air as you breathe more rapidly or deeply. This can irritate the already sensitive lining of the airways and cause asthma symptoms or trigger a more severe asthma attack, particularly if your asthma is not well controlled. This is called exercise-induced asthma.

How do I know if I have exercise-induced asthma?

The common symptoms of exercise-induced asthma are:

• wheezing
• abnormal shortness of breath
• tightness in the chest
• coughing

Your may have just one of these symptoms or a combination of them.

Treatment with a airway opener (reliever) medicine, such as a quick-acting bronchodilator, should immediately relieve one or more of the symptoms. If not, you should discuss other possible reasons for the symptoms with your doctor.

How can I avoid exercise-induced asthma?

The best way to avoid exercise-induced asthma is to make sure that your asthma is properly controlled and, if necessary, that you take extra medication before exercising. A good warm-up also reduces the risk of exercise-induced asthma.

Anti-inflammatory treatment, preferably with inhaled corticosteroids, taken regularly will prevent exercise-induced asthma in many people. However, some people still need to take an airway opener (bronchodilator) before exercise. Many people with asthma should have daily treatment with both inhaled corticosteroids and a long-acting airway opener. Combination medications are now available in many countries.

Particular types of exercise, such as running and jogging, are more likely to expose the airways to large volumes of dry air and trigger asthma, while less vigorous activities, like swimming and yoga, are less likely to cause these symptoms.

Are some kind of physical activities more suitable for people with asthma?

Aerobics is an effective activity, which allows you to train in sessions at varying intensities. The purpose of aerobics is to develop your breathing and heart capacity. If you start by warming up with light jogging, you can, for example, increase the intensity for a couple of minutes, slow down again and then increase the speed once more.

Indoor swimming is also thought to be good exercise, because it takes place at a controlled temperature and in a humid environment. You can also try an aerobic approach by increasing and decreasing your swimming speed.

Whatever you do, make sure you warm up first, because this will reduce the likelihood of exercise-induced asthma.

The most important thing is that the exercise you do is fun; otherwise it is easy to skip it. It is important to find the exercise that suits you!

How intensively do I dare to exercise?

Your training programme should help you get in better shape gradually. Remember that it takes time to get in shape. As a rule of thumb, you should feel fine after every training session. It is therefore important that you do not try to do too much at once. You should not feel totally exhausted for a couple of hours after every training session.

If you often get asthma symptoms when you exercise intensively, this could be a signal that you are not taking enough medication or that your asthma does not allow such intensive exercise. Talk to your doctor about your treatment to see if anything can be done.

I often feel my asthma when I jog. Do I have to quit jogging?

Absolutely not! Very often, just preparing yourself for jogging somewhat differently can be enough. There are two things you should remember. First, take your airway opener medication about 15 minutes before you start. Secondly, warm up properly before you go full steam ahead.

What should I do if I get asthma symptoms while exercising?

Make sure that you always carry a quick-relief airway opener medication and use it promptly if necessary.

If exercising often causes asthma symptoms, your may need to take a better preventive medication, or to avoid a particular kind of exercise.

Can I take asthma medications and still take part in competitive sports?

Yes. Most of the commonly prescribed asthma medications are allowed in competitive sports. Generally, the use of inhaled anti-inflammatory medicines and some bronchodilators is allowed, but corticosteroids in tablet, syrup, suppository or injectable form are banned.

Check with your doctor or the national sports associations – especially if competing internationally – to be sure that your medication does not violate any doping rules. In some cases, you will need a certificate from your doctor about your need for asthma medication.