ASTHMA CONTROL

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Have fun and be healthy
Physical activity improves lung capacity, blood flow, and

is
calming, fulfilling and fun. For people with asthma, it is
especially important. People who are active usually find
they
have less asthma and cope better when they do have it.
Sport
and Recreation NZ (SPARC) recommends just 30
minutes of
brisk walking on most days of the week. A small price
to pay
for staying well.
Some tips for exercising with asthma

1. Keep your asthma under control
Controlling your asthma day to day improves Exercise
Induced Asthma. Many people get more wheezy with
exercise because their asthma is not as well controlled
as it
could be. If you have symptoms of asthma more than
three
times a week, your asthma is not well controlled. See
your
doctor to review your medicines and ask for an Asthma
Self
Management Plan.

2. Think about your body today, and consider the
weather conditions and
activity
Check your body – is your asthma worse due to a cold?
If so,
rest up until you are strong again.
Check the weather – is it a cold, dry day? Wearing a
thin,
warm scarf loosely around your lower face can help
warm
the air you breathe and prevent EIA, or exercise inside if
you
can.
Activities involving a lot of stopping and starting or a
warm
moist environment are less likely to cause EIA.
Swimming,
walking, tramping, tennis, yoga, martial arts, tai chi,
aerobics
or team sports, are often preferred by people with EIA.

3. Remember to warm up
Stretching and a few minutes of running or skipping
before
exercise will help prevent EIA, protect you from sprains
and
strains, and get you in the mood to move!
5. Use your reliever inhaler before activity
Take 1-2 puffs of reliever medicine (Ventolin, Bricanyl,
Respolin, Airomir…usually blue-coloured) just before you
exercise. Other useful medications prescribed are Intal,
Tilade or Vicrom – they are usually preventer medicines,
but
can also be used 10 minutes before exercise.
6. Breathe, don’t heave!
Slow deep breaths through your nose with the right
pattern
can help stop EIA. The next section can help you learn
to
breathe easy.Click here to learn more about better
breathing .