If
you've never had to work hard for a breath, you don't really
know what it's like to have asthma. For the millions of asthma
sufferers, life can be a daily struggle to function. Although
the benefits of aerobic training are well-established, the
potential impact on asthma patients is controversial because
many patients tend to show less tolerance to exercise.
A study of 42 asthmatic children (8-16 years of age) evaluated
the effectiveness of aerobic exercise in managing asthma.
Aerobic training consisted primarily of sessions on an exercycle,
three times per week for two months (10-15 minutes of warmup/stretching,
30 minutes of cycling, and a 5-minute cooldown). Results showed
that aerobic training was associated with a significant short-term
reduction in the use of inhaled and oral steroids, which are
commonly prescribed to asthma patients.
If you or someone you know suffers from asthma, ask your
doctor about the pros and cons of aerobic exercise. A moderate
aerobic training routine is a great way to stay fit, and it
might be an appropriate way to fight asthma at the same time.
Reference:
Neder JA, Nery LE, Silva AC, et al. Short-term effects of
aerobic training in the clinical management of moderate to
severe asthma in children. Thorax 1999: Vol. 54, pp202-206.
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