Asthma and Exercise

Having asthma doesn’t mean you can’t be active.  Some people who have asthma will have symptoms, like coughing and wheezing, when they are active. Other people have asthma that is triggered only by exercise (exercise-induced asthma). In both cases, symptoms of asthma can almost always be prevented.  Some people avoid the symptoms by keeping their asthma under control with their regular asthma medicines. For other people, taking certain inhaled asthma medicines before they exercise helps them avoid the symptoms. You and your doctor or asthma counselor can make an Asthma Action/Management Plan that includes ways to control asthma triggered by exercise, so you can stay active. Many famous athletes have asthma and are at the top of their game. Click here to learn about them.

Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA)

When asthma is triggered only by physical activity, it is called exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Just as with other asthma triggers, a person who is triggered into an asthma attack by exercise has airways that narrow and tighten after he or she begins, and symptoms of EIA can be much worse with seasonal allergies. Fast, hard breathing, wheezing and a tight chest are signs of an asthma attack. People with EIA may also have extra mucus in their lungs that makes them cough during an attack. The symptoms usually start within five to ten minutes after exercise, and may last as long as 30 minutes. An asthma attack can be very serious and scary. If people with EIA don’t get treatment, they will often limit themselves from taking part in physical activities. Remember, EIA can be controlled, so that people who suffer from it can be as active as they want to be.

 Asthma Action/Management Plans

 Make sure you discuss with your doctor or asthma counselor what to do before, during and after exercise to keep you from having an asthma episode. Then follow the Asthma Action/Management Plan prescribed by your doctor. The following steps can help you and your doctor make a plan that works for you:

• Keep an activity diary where you write down your activities and when you have asthma symptoms. It’s a good idea to write down the steps you took to get relief, too, so that you can show your doctor how the treatment plan is working.
• When you take your medication can be very important. Ask your doctor about the best times to take each of your medications in relation to your exercise schedule.
• When you are being active, pay attention to the kinds of exercises that feel best to you, and the amount of time you can do them without asthma symptoms. For example, can you get through a complete workout cycle? How far can you walk comfortably? By telling the doctor about your abilities, he or she may be able to help you increase them, or help you find new ways to be active.
• If you follow your Asthma Action Plan and still have trouble breathing while working out, tell your doctor. They should be able to adjust the plan to keep you breathing easy.

Dealing with Asthma and Exercise

 Experts think it’s important for people with asthma to get regular exercise to condition and strengthen their lungs.  Try these tips to help you cope:

• If you’re on a team, give your coach a copy of your Asthma Action Plan.
• Start with a 15-minute warm-up to allow the lungs to adjust to the increased demand for oxygen.
• In cold weather, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf to help warm the air before it gets to the lungs.
• Avoid triggers that may cause or worsen your asthma (for example, don’t exercise outdoors when pollen counts are high).
• End with a 15-minute cool-down rather than stopping abruptly.
• Follow your doctor’s instructions about using medication before or after exercise. 

Here are some medicines that your doctor might prescribe for asthma symptoms with exercise:  

Regular use of a long-term controller medicine allows many people with asthma to have fewer symptoms with exercise.

• If you have symptoms, use a quick-relief medicine right away. Don’t push yourself, stop and rest if you need to. Remember, long-term controller medicines like cromolyn and corticosteriods should not be taken during an asthma attack because they do not open the airways quickly.

 Be sure to talk about your asthma with your family and friends. The more they know about it, the more they can help you make your Asthma Management Plan work.

For a pdf, printer-friendly version of this exercise and asthma information, click here. You may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it.

Adapted from the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, NIH Publication No. 97-4051, July 1997, Updated 2002, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.