You don’t need me to tell you that exercise is beneficial for your health; regular activity makes you feel good, prevents a variety of health concerns and helps you to maintain your weight. But did you know that exercise can enhance your wellbeing when you suffer from asthma? You might be concerned that physical activity will trigger your symptoms, but actually exercise can have the opposite effect.
As you age, exercise becomes more important than ever as you need to keep using your body to get the best out of it. Studies have shown that people who keep exercising through their middle years stay healthier than people who don’t. By staying active, you enable your heart, bones and digestive system to stay healthy, keeping your joints working, your reflexes sharp and your muscles strong. Moreover, exercise is good for your emotional wellness as it reduces your stress, releases endorphins that make you feel happy and energised, and helps you to sleep.
However, for asthma sufferers, exercise can be a mountain to climb. In fact, eight out of 10 asthma sufferers don’t do enough exercise, the commonly cited reason for which being concerns over aggravating symptoms. But you shouldn’t let asthma hold you back! In fact, exercise can help you to improve your lung capacity, which will help you to manage your asthma better. Exercise also gives you more stamina for everyday activities, such as cleaning and shopping. Plus, once you realise you can workout and still feel great, you’ll worry less about your asthma, and have the confidence you need to manage your condition.
When you’re getting started, the first thing you need to do is see your GP or asthma nurse. Not only will they be able to check whether your asthma is under control (meaning you rarely have symptoms), but they’ll also be able to help you find the best type of exercise for you and check you’re on the right medicines. If exercising brings out your asthma symptoms – such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or tightness in the chest – your doctor might advise you to take a few puffs of our reliever inhaler before starting the activity. You might also be referred to a physiotherapist who can develop an exercise programme suitable for you and your individual needs.
You don’t have to spend hours in the gym to get fit, and nor should you get started that way. According to fitness guru Rosemary Conley, who’s had asthma all her life, the best thing to do is ‘Go gently at first, but even a five minute walk three times a day will make a real difference. Walk to the shops, use the stairs more, mow the lawn – anything!’ If you haven’t been exercising at all, start with trying to do 5 minutes a day. Wait for this to become easy, and then move up to 10 minutes, gradually building up to at least 30 minutes a day. Remember to warm up and cool down before and after exercising, and include stretches so you don’t strain your muscles.
Finally, remember these safety tips:
1. If exercise still triggers your asthma, see your GP or nurse again.
2. Make sure anyone you’re exercising with knows what to do if you have an asthma attack.
3. Always carry your (blue) reliever inhaler.
4. If you have asthma symptoms when you exercise, stop, puff on your reliever inhaler and wait five minutes for your symptoms to disappear before you start again.
5. Don’t exercise outside when it’s chilly if cold weather exacerbates your asthma.
6. Don’t exercise outside the when the pollen count is very high if pollen is a trigger.
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