Asthma sufferers will often avoid exercise, fearing that it will worsen their condition or induce an asthma attack. Whilst it can be the case that exercise triggers symptoms, this should not be a reason for it to be avoided. Many top athletes have asthma, and good management of your symptoms will allow you to build a healthy lifestyle that incorporates exercise.
Can exercise stop asthma symptoms?
Some types of exercise can reduce or prevent asthma symptoms. They work by making your lungs stronger without worsening inflammation.
Specifically, these activities minimize symptoms because they:
- Increase endurance – Over time, working out can help your airways build up tolerance to exercise. This makes it easier for your lungs to perform activities that usually make you winded, like walking up stairs.
- Reduce inflammation – Though asthma inflames the airways, regular exercise can actually decrease inflammation. It works by reducing inflammatory proteins, which improves how your airways respond to exercise.
- Improve lung capacity – The more you work out, the more your lungs get used to consuming oxygen. This decreases how hard your body must work to breathe on a daily basis.
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