Is it safe to exercise if I have asthma?

• Yes, exercise is a good thing for everybody, including asthmatics
• The benefits of exercise include increased endurance and exercise tolerance, improved self esteem, and improved psychological and physical well-being
• 17 percent of the athletes in the summer Olympics in 1996 had asthma

Are there any precautions that I should take when exercising?

• Many asthmatics have exercise as a trigger.
• Hot, humid air and cold, dry air seems to be more problematic for asthmatics.
• Warm-up exercises in a moderate environment before going out into a more extreme climate reduces the risk of an asthma exacerbation.
• Use a bronchodilator 15 to 20 minutes prior to exercise.

What should I do if my asthma flares while exercising?

• Slow your exercise pace to a stop over a few minutes.
• Use a short acting b-agonist (Albuterol, Maxair, Alupent) as prescribed.
• Return to a moderate climate as soon as possible.
• If symptoms worsen or persist call your physician.
• Recurrence of exacerbations while exercising may signal a need for increased treatment of underlying asthma.

Exercise Induced Asthma

• What is exercise induced asthma?
• What are the symptoms of exercise induced asthma?
• How do you get diagnosed with exercise induced asthma?
• What are the treatment options for exercise induced asthma?