5 exercise tips for people with asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory tract, causing bronchospasm, edema and increased secretions, leading to difficulty breathing. The disease often manifests itself through coughing, wheezing and chest tightness; If not controlled well, it can cause severe and dangerous asthma attacks.

People with asthma can exercise appropriately to improve respiratory function, increase endurance and support symptom control. Below are good notes for people with asthma when exercising.

Intermittent, short-term training

People with asthma who exercise for a long time can do thisărisk of symptoms appearing. Short, moderate exercise helps improve physical fitness, cardiovascular health and aids in disease control. Patients can choose activities such as walking, light jogging, cycling or swimming, doing about 20-30 minutes per session, 2-3 times per week.

Warm up before exercising

Patients should warm up about 5-10 minutes before exercising to warm up the body and help the respiratory system gradually adapt to exercise. This habit aims to increase breathing and heart rate without causing asthma symptoms when exercising.

People who have a habit of warming up before exercising also reduce injuries, increase body temperature, and improve blood circulation and oxygen to muscles. Thanks to that, joints are also more flexible, increasing exercise performance.

Bring medicine

Asthma symptoms can appear suddenly during exercise. Therefore, patients should carry reliever inhalers when walking, jogging, cycling or exercising indoors to use when needed. Patients should also consult their doctor for guidance on an appropriate and safe exercise program.

Check air quality and pollen before exercising outdoors

Air quality and pollen levels can affect asthma symptoms. Patients should check these indicators before exercising outdoors.

When the air quality index (AQI) is poor or pollen concentrations are high, people with asthma should limit strenuous outdoor activities to reduce the risk of symptom onset. Even low pollen levels can cause respiratory discomfort in some patients.

Avoid cold, dry air

In some people with asthma, exercising in cold or dry environments can increase the risk of symptoms. If the patient must exercise in this condition, they should breathe through their nose or cover their mouth with a towel to warm and humidify the air before inhaling.