Exercising helps people keep a healthy and desirable body weight and figure, boost and strengthen the immune system as well as strengthen and tone the muscles of the body. Most people who exercise and go to the gym expect nothing but good health benefits whenever they go to the gym, right? Well, in the case of exercise-induced asthma, going to the gym and trying hard to keep fit and sexy is a no-no. Individuals who are suffering from exercise-induced asthma are highly discouraged to perform specific exercises that could be really strenuous to the body, as well as the lungs.
You see, when one gives his or her best in an exercise routine, it requires physical effort. When a person exerts too much physical effort, the breathing pattern may change and become affected, which could eventually lead to a medical condition called exercise-induced asthma.
Exercise And Symptoms
Tightening of the chest, coughing and wheezing during or after exercise are just some of the most common symptoms that one may feel if he or she has exercise-induced asthma.
People who are suffering from exercise-induced asthma are known to be very sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature. Dry and cold air experienced during or after exercising is a common trigger for exercise-induced asthma. Exercising is considered to be a strenuous physical activity and when people are exercising, they usually breathe through their mouth making way for dry and cold air to enter the lower airways. Since the mouth was used for breathing, the nose did not have the chance to make the air warm and humid for the airways.
Breathing through the mouth also gives more chances for air pollutants, viral respiratory tract infections, and high pollen counts to enter the airways and makes wheezing during exercise more severe.
Reducing The Risks
Individuals who are suffering from exercise-induced asthma should reduce or avoid the risks of having an asthma attack by opting not to exercise excessively. Minor exercises such as brisk walking, swimming, leisure biking, free downhill skiing, hiking and stretching can somehow be tolerated by patients who have exercise-induced asthma, but extreme physical sports such as basketball, soccer, long-distance running, and field hockey should be avoided by exercise-induced asthma sufferers to avoid and prevent future asthma attacks.
Reducing the risks of having exercise-induced asthma is simple and easy; you just have to avoid exercises that seem to be too heavy and require a lot of effort.
Ice hockey and cross-country skiing are activities that must be greatly avoided by people who have EIA because the cold weather and the air that comes along with it can greatly put the patient at risk for another EIA attack.
People who are suffering from exercise-induced asthma attacks should also take extra effort to keep themselves extra warm during cold weather. Wearing a surgical mask or scarf over the nose and mouth can greatly help in decreasing the symptoms of EIAs by primarily warming the inhaled air.
A Lot Of Alternatives
When one is diagnosed with an exercise-induced asthma, it doesn't necessarily mean that he or she cannot participate in games, sports and activities that require a lot of fun. People who have asthma do not necessarily have to feel that they are not like normal people due to the fact that there are some sports and activities that they cannot perform due to their asthma.
If asthmatic persons dream of being an athlete or just simply playing a sport, their dream should not be doused by negative thoughts pertaining to their sickness. Instead of feeling "crippled", asthmatics can channel their desire to participate in very active sports through "milder" sports.
Asthma specialists can be consulted as to what kind of possible sports and exercises one can have if he or she has exercised-induced asthma.
These sports not only give asthmatics a way to relax and recreate but it also gives them a chance to improve, maintain and enhance their health by not living a sedentary lifestyle.
Again, it must be remembered that having asthma does not mean that one cannot enjoy the benefits of exercise and other sports.