Asthma is largely an allergic infection in which the airways and passageways of a person's lungs become inflamed and choked, so that the person is not able to breathe. Usually, allergens like smoke and pollen trigger an asthma episode. However, the same could also be triggered by exercise. Exercise induced asthma is commonly experienced by those who keep an active lifestyle.
The symptoms of exercise induced asthma include coughing, gasping for air, wheezing, shortness of breath, and a feeling of tightness in the chest. Usually, these symptoms cease immediately after coming to a rest after exercising. However, there are some who may experience these symptoms as soon as they begin with their physical routine. Exercise induced asthma symptoms may be experienced at any time. However, just because you experience an exercise induced asthma attack, does not mean that you should give up exercising.
Exercise induced asthma treatment is similar to any other attack. Use your inhaler as per your physician's directions as soon as you experience any respiratory discomfort. It is, however, more prudent to take careful precautions before you begin your exercise.
Cold and dry air may trigger asthma symptoms. Breathe through your nose or wear a scarf over your mouth if you are exercising in cold and dry weather. If the air around you is dirty and polluted, it is better to exercise somewhere else. Try to avoid any grassy areas where the grass has just been mowed.
Follow a proper exercise routine, starting with a brief warm up session. If you have experienced exercise induced asthma attacks before, try and stick to light or stretching exercises. The longer you warm up, the lesser are the chances of you experiencing an attack. After you have performed your exercise, have a cooling down session. Walk slowly around the park or whichever area you are exercising in.
It is important to know that not all kinds of exercises can trigger your symptoms. There are some exercises which are less likely to cause an exercise induced asthma attack than others. Swimming, for instance, is a perfect sport for those who suffer from exercise induced asthma. Since the air is both warm and moist, the symptoms of asthma are kept at bay.
If you prefer competitive sports, always play those sports which have breaks in between and which do not expect you to run around or move very fast. These are also less likely to trigger the symptoms of asthma.
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