Asthma affects the ability to breathe but certain exercises candefinitely improve lung health.
Has it ever happened that all of a sudden you faced difficulty while breathing? You feel you can’t get enough air, you have to make a huge effort to just simply take in air. This can be the most harrowing and a scary experience.This is what most asthmatic patients face during an asthma attack. Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the ability to breathe freely, leading to inflammation of the airways. This respiratory chronic disease affects people of all ages but mostly develops during childhood and is often triggered due to a mix of hereditary and environmental factors.
According to a survey,more than 26 million people in the US are affected by asthma and many are undiagnosed. This is because of the lack of knowledge or negligence towards the mild symptoms of asthma. So it is always advisable to visit a doctor if you experience difficulty in breathing or have any of the asthma symptoms. Find out early, and start building lung strength.
Symptoms of Asthma
The symptoms of asthma may vary from person to person. They can be barely noticeable, critical, or sometimes be even mortal. The early signs or symptoms occur when the airways or windpipe to the lungs begin to compress and swell. If one has been an asthmatic patient for years or has just experienced his first outbreak, the symptoms could be:
Wheezing-
Wheezing is one of the recognized symptoms of asthma. As a result of the contraction of the air pipe (airways or windpipe), usually a whistling sound is created when you exhale. But wheezing as a symptom alone does not mean that you have asthma.
Coughing-
One of the most common asthma symptoms is persistent coughing. The cough can be wet containing mucus or it can be dry. The falling temperatures in the night or heavy exercise can worsen it.
Difficulty in Breathing-
Difficulty in breathing increases due to the narrow, contracted, and inflamed air pipe. Further mucus often accumulates in these contracted air pipes worsening the situation.
Chest Tightness-
The constricted air pipe can also tighten the chest, leading to further anxiety and difficulty in breathing.
Fatigue-
As the air pipes contract, lungs receive less oxygen. Due to this,muscles and blood also receive a reduced amount of oxygen setting in fatigue.
When to Visit a Doctor
The best way to fight asthma is to manage it at the right time, therefore it becomes important to pay a visit to your doctor when you come across any of the following symptoms:
- Rapid shortness of breath (even while performing minimal physical activity)
- Frequent wheezing with cough
- No relief after using an inhaler
- Frequent asthma attacks
Exercise and Asthma
Asthma is a condition, that cannot be completely cured but yes it has been seen, that certain indoor exercises can help manage this condition.
Due to environmental factors, outdoor exercise can expose you to the risk of an asthma attack or EIB (exercise-induced bronchoconstriction).
Many research studies have proved that exercises can reduce the symptoms of asthma by improving the health of the heart and the lungs. Exercises or activities that increase the heart rate for 20-30 minutes are ideal. Moreover, there are products like the Spirometer (Deep Breathing Lung Exerciser) which help in improving and maintaining respiratory fitness, to accelerate health benefits Soulgenie has special wholesale prices on the Spirometer with discounts applicable on orders as few as 5 pieces. So encourage its use among family and friends.
How Spirometer Helps
A Spirometer is a scientifically designed handheld device that improves lung health. Due to asthma attacks and prolonged illness, the lungs become frail. They can be strengthened with the use of this respiratory exerciser, which helps to keep the lungs active and the airways free from contraction.
Breathing exercises with the Spirometer, help to expand the alveoli (air sacs in the lungs)and release excess mucus from its surface. It helps in preventing any kind of fluid build-up in the lung, and keeps the air passages free.
The Spirometer also has an indirect positive effect on several disorders that may be the result of improper breathing.
You may not be able to cure asthma by exercises, but they will definitely help you manage asthma better. Use along with doctor’s advice.