No matter what your age is, if there’s one thing I’ve learnt from having asthma for close too forty years, it is you have to exercise. But is it easier said then done ?

I remember when I was young the two things that deterred me from exercise were becoming breathless and wheezing. However it didn’t stop me as I was an  active kid and loved sport. The one activity I use to try an avoid was swimming as I become breathless and started to wheeze, which would make me feel embarrassed. Many times at swimming lessons I use to tell the instructor I couldn’t swim today as I had an ear infection, this worked until my parents asked the instructor how my lessons were going.

I decided to stick with the activities that I was comfortable with ( the ones I could hide my asthma the best) they included rugby soccer and cricket. It’s safe to say I’ve always tried to hide my asthma as I’ve always been embarrassed about it, when I look back now I think how silly I’ve was.

In reality if I’d embraced my asthma and been open about it with everyone life would have been considerably easier. So for younger people in particular with asthma the best advice I can give is not to let your asthma hold you back.

The benefits of exercise

I’m not going to give you any scientific facts or evidence from clinical trials about the benefits of exercise for asthmatics, what I can do is offer a lifetime of experience. My asthma has always been best managed when I’m fit an active and that applies even more now that I have COPD. Why ?

Whether we have asthma or COPD our day to day health can be influenced by triggers that bring on an episode, we can mange  with medication. What we need to do as well is to make sure our respiratory system is as strong as possible. A strong respiratory system is far better able to deal with flare ups than a weak one.

What’s the best exercise for asthmatics?

The exercise you enjoy most is always going to be the best mainly due to the fact if you enjoy it you’ll keep doing it. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t  try different activities because you might be surprised by what your body adapts to the best. These days I love swimming whereas in the past it’s something I’ve avoided.

If there is one activity that has the greatest affect on me it would be swimming , my breathing is easily managed when swimming and I feel better within myself when doing a lot of it.

Keep in mind that any activity that is raising your heart rate is useful, whether it’s a brisk walk or an Ironman race the value of regular exercise that becomes a part of your normal life can’t be under estimated. Your respiratory system will become stronger and better equipped to deal with your asthma.

So let’s get up and get asthma active !