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How to Manage Exercise-Induced Asthma During the Texas Summer
We all know that engaging in physical activity on a regular basis offers a multitude of health benefits, from lowering your risk for heart disease to helping normalize blood pressure and reducing the likelihood you’ll be diagnosed with diabetes.
However, some people who want to be active dread it because exercise provokes asthma attacks in them. In fact, exercise-induced asthma affects 40-90% of people living with asthma — and up to 20% of those who haven’t been diagnosed with asthma.
If your enjoyment of physical activity and pursuit of fitness have been curtailed by exercise-induced asthma, you can prevent it and continue enjoying your favorite activities. Here in Texas, this type of asthma is exacerbated even more by our wicked summer temps and humidity.
At Allergy and Asthma Clinic of Central Texas, our highly skilled and caring providers are ready to diagnose your asthma, create a customized treatment plan for you, and provide education on steps you can take at home to ward off attacks. They’re dedicated to partnering with you so you can live life to the fullest — with comfort and no worries about breathing problems and other scary symptoms.
Exercise-induced asthma slows you down and disrupts your life
Living with asthma can feel burdensome in many ways, but there’s a Catch-22 when it comes to exercise. Physical activity is good for asthmatics because it promotes healthy blood flow to your lungs and contributes to improving your lung capacity, which maximizes the oxygen you’re able to use — yet it can also bring on an asthma attack and symptoms like:
- Trouble breathing
- Chest tightness
- Wheezing
- Coughing fits
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
It’s easy to understand why these symptoms stop you in your tracks — literally, if they start when you’re exercising.
The good news is this doesn’t mean you can never exert yourself again. You just have to learn how to manage your exercise-induced asthma well, and your Allergy and Asthma Clinic of Central Texas provider can help you with this.
Steps you can take to get control over your exercise-induced asthma
Smart management of your exercise-induced asthma symptoms is the key to enjoying exercise and not stressing about when you might be stricken with asthma symptoms.
Here are some good strategies that can keep you moving comfortably throughout the sweltering Texas summer!
1. Be proactive about treatment before you exercise
Whether your Allergy and Asthma Clinic of Central Texas provider has recommended prescription medications, long-acting inhaled beta agonists (LABAs) that relax your airways, inhaled anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, a combination inhaler, or several of these treatments, talk to them about taking your medication before you exercise, and what the correct window of time for doing so should be for optimal results.
2. Be sure to warm up before exercising
Warming up before you get active helps your body — and your airways — ease into exercise and gradually get used to greater airflow, rather than becoming overwhelmed.
You should allow about 10-15 minutes for this.
3. Cooling down is just as important as warming up
A cool-down period offers your airways the same benefits as warming up as you “come down” from any strenuous exercise.
4. Check the air quality before exercising outside
If it’s a high pollution day or pollen counts are astronomical, think about exercising indoors. A trip to the gym, rather than an outdoor run, might make the difference between a comfortable workout and coping with asthma symptoms.
5. Get acquainted with your symptoms
Everyone experiences asthma a bit differently, so learn what your particular symptoms are. If you feel any of them starting while you’re exercising, stop right away.
6. Be mindful of the activity you choose
Good activities to opt for if you live with exercise-induced asthma include walking, biking, golfing, and downhill skiing. Those you may want to avoid that are associated more with attacks are basketball, cross-country skiing, soccer, and long-distance running.
7. Don’t forget your quick-relief rescue inhaler
These handheld inhalers can be lifesavers if you start experiencing symptoms while you’re working out. They knock out symptoms by delivering immediate results.
We’re with you as you tackle asthma attacks that are brought on by exercise. Our team does all we can to ensure that you can be free to enjoy the great outdoors here in Texas — yes, even in the summer — and breathe easy while doing it!
Contact our Killen, Georgetown, or Round Rock, Texas, office to schedule an appointment with us, or book one online.
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