Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center

Exercise

Up to 90 percent of people with asthma have symptoms when they exercise. That doesn't mean though, that you should stop exercising. (Thirty percent of the 1996 U.S. Olympians who had asthma or took asthma medications won team or individual medals in their Olympic event.) It just means that you need to take precautions before, during, and after exercising to be sure you do not have an asthma attack.

Why Does Exercise Trigger Asthma?

Think of your nose as a kind of humidifier. When air passes through your nostrils, it is warmed and dampened before it reaches your airways. When you exercise, the tendency is to breathe through your mouth instead of your nose. This means that colder drier air is going directly into your airways, which may trigger an asthma attack.

It can take only five minutes of exertion for symptoms to begin. If this happens, it means that your asthma is not well controlled. Consult with a doctor for a treatment plan so that you can be as active as you like. Allergy and asthma specialists have special training in identifying and treating-exercise induced asthma.

Here are some suggestions to help control exercise induced asthma:

• Be sure to take your asthma medications before you exercise as prescribed by your doctor. This may include a quick relief medication and/or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory inhaler 15 to 30 minutes before the activity. Stick to your Asthma Action Plan.
• Be aware of smog alerts, extra warm, extra humid, or high pollen count days. You may want to avoid outdoor exercise on these days.
• In the winter, use a facemask or scarf to help trap moisture and warm air for re-breathing, as cold dry air can be hard on asthmatic airways.
• During pollen season, wear a dust mask.
• Warm up first, increase aerobic activity slowly, and cool down after finishing. When you step up your strenuous sports, do it sensibly. As your cardiovascular and reparatory levels increase, so will the demands you place on them.
• Exercise should be part of your daily routine for at least a half hour a day, five days a week.
• You should not exercise if your asthma is unstable or your peak flow is in the yellow or red zones.
• Contact your doctor if your symptoms are not controlled on your current plan.