Exercise And Asthma

If you suffer from asthma, you probably think that you can't exercise properly or safely.  Contrary to what many think of this subject, there are ways that you can get in shape and exercise, even if you suffer from asthma.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that is marked by characteristics such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.  Asthma tends to occur with people who are genetically or environmentally presdisposed to the condition.

Some of the triggers that may start or make an attack worse include exposure to allergens, viral respiratory infections, airway irritants, exercise, and exposureto things such as dust mites or cockroaches.

You can prevent asthma attacks by doing the following:

1.  Bathe your pets weekly.
2.  Don't smoke or permit smoking in your home.
3.  When mold or pollent counts are high, you should stay inside with air conditioning.
4.  Wash your bedding and any stuffed toys at least once per week in hot water.
5.  Wash your hands every chance you get.
6.  Get a flu shot.
7.  Wear a scarf over your mouth and nose in the winter months.
8.  Be proactive and know your triggers and how you should avoid them.

Now that you know what you know about asthma, you may be wondering where exercise fits in.  As most doctors will tell you, you shouldn't give up on sports or exercise at all.  You just have to be smart about how you play and take special pre cautions to avoid attacks.

Almost all doctors agree that the best way to prevent attacks during exercise is to keep your
inhaler and medication close by.  You should never use the inhaler more than 3 times during a game or exercise session.  If you are up the previous  night with coughing and wheezing, it's always best to go light with your exercise the next day.

For something known as IEA (Exercise Induced Asthma), the symptoms are somewhat different, in the fact that they appear after 6 - 10 minutes of exercise and will often be worse in cold or dry air.

If you have IEA, there are several activities that you can enjoy such as swimming, walking, biking,
downhill skiing, and team based sports.  There aremany activities for you to choose from, to ensure
you get the exercise you need as well.

Keep in mind that the condition of asthma isn't  "all in your head", it is a real physiological
medical treatment that will require treatment to prevent and treat.  Even though your doctor will
be your best friend in treating asthma, you are the one who can prevent your symptoms.

Always be smart, take your medication, and be proactive.  Don't let it put you in a life of
misery - as you can enjoy exercise just like everyone else.

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Asthma Symptoms

               Asthma Symptoms; the Definition


In his book, Essential Allergy, Niels Mygind defines asthma as:

A lung disease characterised by:

1.  - variable and reversible airway obstruction
2.  - airway inflammation 
3.  - bronchial hyper-responsiveness

Asthma is a disease where bronchial tubes are sensitive to irritants, which cause them to inflame and produce difficult breathing. The inflammation can cause,

•  contraction of muscles around the air passages
•  swelling of the airway lining due to airway inflammation
•  excessive mucus in the airways.

Asthma occurs in most western countries and is the leading chronic illness of children.

Asthma, in some cases, cannot be cured, but for most patients it can be controlled so that they have only minimal and infrequent symptoms and they can live an active life.

If you have asthma, managing it is an important part of your life. Controlling your asthma means staying away from things that bother your airways and taking medicines or natural remedies as directed by your doctor.

When a person experiences a worsening of their asthma symptoms, it is called an asthma episode or, in severe cases, an asthma attack. During an asthma attack, smooth muscles around the bronchial tubes contract, making the airway openings narrower so less air can flow through. Inflammation increases and the airways become more swollen and narrow. Cells in the airways also make more mucus than usual, which narrows the airways further. The changes to the airways cause the symptoms of asthma.

Asthma attacks are not all the same-some are worse than others. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that not enough oxygen gets to vital organs. This condition is a medical emergency. People can die from severe asthma attacks. A person suffering from an asthma attack has a sensation similar to drowning.

Learning the warning signs or asthma symptoms can often alert a sufferer in time to take preventive action, such as medication or natural remedies.

Asthma attacks can occur over a long period of time. Although there are times when acute episodes strike asthmatics, most asthma sufferers say that there are long periods during which they suffer few, if any, asthma symptoms.




              Asthma Symptoms; its Symptoms


Here are some asthma symptoms:

* Coughing. Coughing in people with asthma is often worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard for them to sleep. This may be the only symptom a child with asthma has.

* Wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe.

* A tight feeling in the chest. This can feel like someone is squeezing or sitting on your chest.

* Shortness of breath. Asthma sufferers often say they can’t catch their breath, or they feel breathless or out of breath.

* Narrowing of the air passages in the lungs and hence increased resistance to airflow.

* Significant reversibility with steroid drugs

* Symptom-free periods

* Frequent occurrence of allergy

* Inflammation of the air passages

* Bronchial hyper-responsiveness to non-specific stimuli such as cold air, air pollution, pollen, dust, or other irritants

* Asthma symptoms brought on by exercises

* Coughing or wheezing brought on by prolonged crying or laughing

Not all people have these symptoms, and symptoms may vary from one asthma attack to another. Some symptoms are mild and some are life threatening.

Symptoms also differ in how often they occur. Some people with asthma only have symptoms once every few months, others have symptoms every week, and still other people have symptoms every day.

Learn how to use natural remedies to reduce asthma attacks and to eliminate many of the asthma symptoms

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