It's no secret that most people in the United States and other developed countries don't get enough exercise.
On average, people with asthma are even less likely to get the minimum recommended level of physical activity. (This is becoming increasingly true for kids as well as adults.)
In general, most doctors think that exercise will not cure asthma. However, I have found--and have learned from other athletes and active people who have asthma--that my asthma worsens when I am not exercising regularly.
I went through some extremely tough and even scary times during periods when I did not exercise or train regularly due to a heavy workload and travel schedule. I often would avoid exercise and other physical activity because I feared experiencing the discomfort and breathing problems caused by
asthma and exercise-induced asthma.
I've learned the hard way it's so very important to continually maintain and work to improve my level of fitness.
The more fit you are, the less hard you have to work and the less strenuously you breathe when doing other, general physical tasks that are part of daily living. Through exercise, you build up your cardiorespiratory and muscular systems and make them more efficient.
Research indicates that people with asthma who have improved their aerobic fitness are better able to cope with airway obstruction than untrained or unfit people with the same degree of obstruction or severity of asthma.
As one example, the May 2005 edition of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reviewed 40 studies which found that asthma patients who participated in fitness activities three to five times a week, for 18 weeks, used less medication and reported less exercise-related fear and anxiety, fewer doctor visits, and fewer absences from work or school.
This same review also mentioned other research studies indicating that inactivity is a factor in the increase in asthma prevalence and severity.
When you exercise properly, you build up your vital capacity. Exercise keeps the heart and respiratory muscles strong and efficient, so less energy is required to cope with asthma symptoms.
Exercising properly can also provide a degree of wellbeing and calm. You gain increased body awareness and control, enhanced flexibility, and have more energy for living.
And exercising regularly helps you manage your weight and avoid or get rid of excess pounds. (Being overweight can really complicate your asthma.)
You may have closed yourself off to exercise because of your asthma. Perhaps you have painful memories of bad experiences, or have tried to work out and hated the feeling of breathlessness, chest tightness, or wheezing that
accompanied it.
Well, I understand completely because I've been in your shoes. And I can tell you that asthma and exercise DO go together. There is a way to approach exercise and training that works for people with asthma.
I'll discuss this further in coming emails.
Remember -- You Can Do It!
Best,
Karen Van Ness
http://www.overcomeasthma.com
P.S. Good news for any couch potatoes who may be reading this: You don't have to devote hours and hours each day and week to get into good shape, achieve robust health, and decrease your asthma symptoms. All you need to do is get moving. The Overcome Asthma Program shows you how! Check it out at http://www.overcomeasthma.com/overcome_asthma.html
Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2008
**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered as medical advice. Always consult a physician before beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**
