Exercise-induced asthma

Exercise-induced asthma is a type of asthma that arises after doing some vigorous physical activity, such as running or swimming, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing or dry cough, for example.

Generally, exercise-induced asthma starts about 6 to 8 minutes after the start of intense exercise and tends to disappear after using the asthma medicine or after 20 to 40 minutes of rest. However, in some cases, the asthma attack can also occur 4 to 10 hours after the end of the activity.

Exercise-induced asthma has no cure, but it can be controlled with the use of drugs and exercises that help prevent the onset of symptoms, allowing physical exercise and even entry into military service.

Symptoms of exercise-induced asthma

The main symptoms of exercise-induced asthma can be:

• Persistent dry cough; Wheezing when breathing; Feeling of shortness of breath; Chest pain or tightness; Excessive tiredness during exercise.

Typically, these symptoms can appear a few minutes after the beginning of physical activity and last up to 30 minutes after exercise, if you do not use drugs to reduce the symptoms, such as "asthma inhales" with corticosteroids previously indicated. See the general symptoms of this disease.

What is the treatment

Treatment for exercise-induced asthma should be guided by a pulmonologist or allergist and is usually done with medications that must be inhaled before exercise to avoid symptoms, such as:

• Beta agonist remedies, such as Albuterol or Levalbuterol: should be inhaled before doing any intense physical activity to open the airways and prevent the appearance of asthma symptoms; Iatropium bromide: it is a medicine widely used by asthmatics to relax the airways and prevent the development of asthma during exercise.

In addition, the doctor may also prescribe other medications to control asthma on a daily basis or when symptoms appear, such as corticosteroid inks Budesonide or Fluticasone, for example, which, over time, may reduce the need to use the medications before exercise physicist.

Best exercises for asthma sufferers

1 - Walk

Walking for about 30 or 40 minutes daily improves blood circulation and cardiorespiratory activity, thereby increasing the uptake of oxygen by the blood. To enjoy the exercise, you should try walking in the early morning or late afternoon, when the temperature is cooler and the person sweats less. On the coldest days of the year, walking on a treadmill indoors or in a gym is more appropriate because for some asthmatics the cold air in the street can make breathing difficult.

See what precautions to take when walking in: Stretching exercises for walking.

2 - Cycling

Those who enjoy cycling can take advantage of this physical activity to strengthen the leg muscles. Initially it is recommended to walk slowly, on a bike path with little movement in order to increase or decrease the risk as needed. However, cycling can cause neck pain in some people due to the height of the saddle and handlebars, so it is only recommended to cycle frequently if it does not cause any discomfort.

3 - Swimming

Swimming is a complete sport and helps to increase the breathing capacity of the individual, because the breathing of the swimming must be synchronized to increase the performance of the exercise. However, if the person with asthma also has allergic rhinitis, the chlorine in the pool can make breathing difficult, but this does not happen to everyone, so it is a matter of experimenting to see if you notice any negative changes in breathing. If this does not happen, it is advisable to swim 30 minutes daily or to do 1 hour of swimming 3 times a week to benefit breathing.

4- Football

For those who already have a good physical condition, playing soccer sporadically is allowed, however this physical activity is more intense and can be more difficult for asthmatics. However, with good physical conditioning, it is possible to play football weekly without going into an asthmatic crisis, but whenever the air is very cold, the possibility of doing another physical activity should be evaluated.

How to prevent asthma during exercise

Some important tips to prevent asthma attacks triggered by physical activity include:

• Do a warm-up 15 minutes before starting the exercise, with muscle stretching or walking, for example; Give preference to lighter physical activities that normally do not cause asthma attacks. Cover your nose and mouth with a scarf or running mask on the coldest days; Try to inhale through your nose during exercise, and you can breathe out through your mouth; Avoid exercising in places with a lot of allergens, such as near traffic or in gardens during the spring.

To complement these tips and better control asthma attacks, it is also important to do breathing exercises at least once a week in a physiotherapy office.