The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that people should engage in aerobic activity every week to stay healthy.

While this is the case, for some people, physical activity and sports might cause asthma symptoms, such as chest tightness, coughing, Shortness of breath, and wheezing.

As a result, these symptoms make exercise difficult and sometimes deadly.

Taking adequate measures and adopting a symptom management strategy can allow you to reap the advantages of exercise while minimizing potential suffering.

Here’s what you need to know about exercising safely with allergic asthma.

How asthma is linked to exercise

Asthma affects around 25 million people in the US. The most frequent kind is allergic asthma, which is caused or worsened by particular allergens, including:

Pests such as mold, pets, pollen, dust mites, and cockroaches.

Whether you’re working out or going about your daily activities, avoiding these common allergens will help you avoid seeing your allergy doctor too frequently. It will also keep allergic asthma symptoms at bay.

Exercise itself can cause asthma symptoms. This is referred to as exercise-induced asthma.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, up to 90% of asthma patients develop exercise-induced asthma while participating in physical activity.

Asthma symptoms can appear while you’re exercising and usually increase 5 to 10 minutes after you stop.

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, you may need to use your rescue inhaler. Some people’s symptoms may resolve on their own within a half hour.

Even if symptoms resolve without medication, some patients may experience a second wave of asthma symptoms 4 to 12 hours later.

These late-phase symptoms are usually not severe and might be resolved within a day. If the symptoms are severe, do not hesitate to take your rescue medication.

How do you know exercise triggers your asthma?

If you suspect you have exercise-induced asthma, speak with your doctor about getting tested to confirm a diagnosis and build a treatment plan.

Your doctor can examine your breathing before, during, and after physical activity to evaluate how well your lungs are functioning and whether exercise is causing your asthma.

If you are diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma, you should consult with your doctor to develop an Asthma Action Plan. That way, you’ll know what to do in an emergency and have a list of drugs handy.

Tips for exercising with allergic asthma

Regular physical exercise is beneficial to your health, even if you have allergic asthma. If you are looking to exercise even with your condition, here are some recommendations that may help you exercise and participate in sports more safely:

Take your medication before you work out. Some drugs can be taken in advance to help you avoid the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma.

Your doctor may advise you to take a short-acting beta-agonist (or bronchodilator) a few minutes before working out, or a long-acting bronchodilator up to an hour before exercising. Your doctor may recommend Mast cell stabilizers in extremely unusual circumstances.

Be ultra-cautious throughout the winter months. Allergic asthma symptoms might be exacerbated in cold surroundings. If you must exercise outside in the winter, donning a mask or scarf may help you avoid symptoms.

Be mindful of the summer months, too. Hot, humid surroundings promote the growth of allergens such as mold and dust mites.

If you must exercise outdoors during the summer, plan your sessions for the mornings or nights when temperatures and humidity are often lower.

Select indoor activities. Avoid exercising outside on days with high allergen and pollution levels, as this can raise your risk of developing allergic asthma.

Practice less stimulating sports. Choose activities that require “short bursts of exercise,” such as volleyball, baseball, gymnastics, strolling, or leisurely bike rides. These activities may be less likely to cause symptoms than ones that involve continuous action, such as soccer, running, or basketball.

Store your things indoors. When left outside, exercise equipment such as bikes, jump ropes, weights, and mats can accumulate pollen or become moldy. To reduce unnecessary exposure to allergens that cause asthma, store your gear inside.

Always warm up and cool down. Stretching before and after a workout may help to alleviate asthma symptoms. Make time for a warm-up before you begin and a cool-down after each exercise.

Carry your inhaler with you. If your doctor has given you an inhaler to help you control exercise-induced asthma, keep it on hand during your workout. It can help reverse certain symptoms if they appear.

When should you seek medical attention?

Some minor symptoms of allergic asthma that appear during exercising may resolve on their own. So you don’t need to do much about them.

However, more severe responses may necessitate medical treatment. Seek emergency medical attention immediately if you experience:

Symptoms of an asthma attack include persistent shortness of breath, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

Symptoms of shortness of breath include strained chest muscles and difficulty speaking for longer periods of time.

When you see any of these symptoms, don’t wait. Get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible so that they can analyze your condition and give you the necessary medication.

When you are hiring a medical doctor, don’t hire them the day the symptoms start showing. Instead, you should start the process early. You should visit a couple of doctors while you are still in good health and determine whether they are the right fit for you.

Since you have a condition, it means that you will be seeing your doctor too frequently. This means that when it comes to hiring them, don’t just look at their experience level. Take time to find out whether your personalities match. You want someone that you are comfortable around and you can easily talk to them.

Parting shot

Asthma symptoms should not keep you from living an active lifestyle. Avoiding triggers, taking prescribed medicine, and selecting the appropriate type of activity will help you exercise safely and avoid symptoms.

Keep track of how your body reacts to physical exercise and have an asthma action plan in place in case you need it.

When the condition worsens, don’t take chances. See an allergy doctor Manassas VA immediately.