Improve Lung Function and Reduce Inflammation

Asthma is a disease that highly affects the lungs, often making it difficult to breathe during various situations. When those affected hear about exercise as a relief, the first thing they may think about is the difficulties they will face when completing this rigorous activity. That said, it is best to begin slowly, and as your body becomes accustomed to it, you will begin to feel the benefits and make a great impact in your life. 

Exercise can help increase lung capacity because the more you work out, the more your lungs will get used to consuming oxygen. This in turn will decrease how hard your body needs to work to breathe daily. Along with that, exercise can reduce inflammation by reducing inflammatory proteins that affect the lungs, improving how your airways respond to breathing.

What Exercises are Best?

In general, the best exercises for people living with asthma involve brief bursts of extersion, as it can be difficult to maintain a high pace for long periods of time. That said, work at your own pace, as you do not want to overwork your lungs. 

Great exercises include:

• Swimming 
• Walking 
• Hiking
• Recreation Biking
• Short-Distance Track and Field 
• Or Any Other Sport with Short Bursts of Activity 

Safety Tips

It is important to stay safe no matter the type of activity you are doing. Following the next few tips can help ensure you stay healthy and safe through various forms of exercise. 

1. Use an inhaler before exercise to relax your airways. 
2. Take any prescribed medication for long-term control. 
3. Make sure to adequately warm up before and cool down after exercise. 
4. Wear a mask or a scarf if it is cold out as colder temperatures can tighten your airways. 
5. Limit your exposure to pollen and pollution, especially if you are allergic. 
6. Avoid sports with non-stop activity such as basketball, soccer, and long-distance running.

Not A Cure, But Can Help You Manage

Keep in mind that exercise is not a cure for asthma, but it can help you manage the symptoms that may negatively impact your life daily. Exercise, in combination with other forms of relief, can help mitigate your symptoms to the point that you can live life without having to worry too much about running out of breath.