If you have exercise-induced asthma, physical exertion may be the only thing that triggers your symptoms. Or exercise may just be one of several things that trigger an asthma attack. The good news is that exercise-induced asthma doesn’t have to limit your athletic goals — whether your aim is a weekly jog or elite competition. Proper treatment can help you keep symptoms under control — and help you exercise as much as you want.
Typically, signs and symptoms of exercise-induced asthma start after five to 15 minutes of exercise. In some cases, signs and symptoms of exercise-induced asthma start after your workout is over.
From the Lung Association at lung.ca:
How to exercise with asthma:
1. Keep your blue rescue inhaler on you (in a pocket, a fanny pack, etc) at all times.
2. Check that your asthma is under control. If it’s not under control, exercise could be dangerous.
3. Take your medications as directed. If you’re having trouble breathing, you should take your rescue medicine (blue inhaler, for example, Ventolin). Your doctor may also ask you to take your blue rescue inhaler or another bronchodilator fifteen minutes before you exercise.
4. Warm up and cool down properly
* Before exercising, warm up slowly by walking, stretching, and doing other low-level activities.
* After you’ve finished exercising, cool down slowly for at least 10 minutes. Don’t stop exercising all of a sudden. If you’ve been running, taper the run to a walking pace. If you’ve been swimming, finish your swim with a slow paddle. Give your body time to adjust.
5. Protect yourself from other asthma triggers while you’re exercising (cold air, smog, pollen, etc.)
* Pay attention to the air quality and temperature in the place you’re planning to exercise. Use your good judgement. You may have to move your exercise to a place with better air quality.
* If you are planning a run outside on a hot, humid, smoggy day, your asthma is likely to be made worse by the air and by exercise. Try running indoors, in an air-conditioned gym, instead.
* If you are running on a grass field but are allergic to grass, your asthma may get worse,. Try running in the woods or on a paved trail.
* If cold air is a trigger and you are cross-country skiing in 25 degrees below zero, your asthma may get worse. Try breathing through your nose or through a scarf, to warm the air up before it gets to your lungs. If your asthma symptoms are bad, wait until the temperature warms up before cross-country skiing.
6. If you have symptoms, stop exercising and take your blue rescue inhaler
* Sit up. Wait a few minutes to see if your symptoms improve.
* If your symptoms improve a lot, warm up again and slowly go back to exercising.
* If your symptoms don’t improve, take another dose of your blue rescue inhaler. Wait a few minutes to see if your symptoms improve.
7. If your symptoms still don’t improve, follow these instructions:
Emergency Sign What to do in an asthma attack
* STOP any activity
* Take your blue rescue inhaler
* Sit up
* If the medicine is not working, call 911
* If symptoms are not getting better, keep taking your blue rescue inhaler until the ambulance arrives
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