It’s World Asthma Day! Did you know that asthma affects tens of millions of people around the world? Many people think asthma is just a children’s disease—one you can grow out of eventually. But this is a myth. Asthma is a chronic condition, just like COPD. While your asthma may seem to have “gone away” over time, it is more likely that your symptoms have changed due to your environment or other factors. Think about what’s changed in your life since your asthma symptoms improved. Do you live in a different house or part of the country? Do you no longer have pets? Are your allergies better controlled? All of these changes can improve your asthma symptoms and make it seem as though your asthma has resolved. But it’s important to know that you still have asthma, and your symptoms can come back in the future. Asthma symptoms can improve over time, or they can become worse. It often depends on how well you can manage your symptoms and avoid your triggers.
If you have exercise-induced asthma (asthma symptoms that start during exercise or exertion), you may think that it’s best to rest and avoid hard physical activity. That was the advice my health care provider gave me when I was in middle school and was experiencing asthma symptoms while running in gym class. But as they say, “things were different back then.” Now we know that exercise is an essential part of asthma control. Avoiding exercise can cause you to gain weight, which puts stress on your lungs. Obesity and being overweight can make your asthma worse.
While it may sound like a vicious circle, there are ways to break the cycle of asthma symptoms causing you to stop exercising. First, check with your health care provider to make sure you have the correct medications. People with exercise-induced asthma often need a bronchodilator inhaler to help open up their airways. These inhalers are used BEFORE you exercise so that you can stop the symptoms before they start. Prevention is the key to managing exercise-induced asthma. But if those first few puffs of medication aren’t enough to control your symptoms, you may need to take your bronchodilator after exercise, too. Or, you may need to add a controller medication to your regimen. Remember, exercise is very important! Work with your health care provider to find an exercise plan that is appropriate for you.
It’s also important to take your time and use a warmup/cool down period to ease your way into and out of an exercise routine. For example, if you’re a runner, start off slow. Consider walking first, then jogging, then running. This slow progression can help to prevent exercise-induced asthma symptoms.
What are your tips for staying active with asthma? Do you have any questions about asthma symptom management? Share them below!