6 Exercises That People With Asthma Can Do.

Everyone knows that exercise is good for your body. Then you tried to go out for a jog or sign up for aerobics class or try any high-intensity workout, but you end up constantly coughing and wheezing.

You have tried every workout out there to lose weight but can’t because of your asthma. It’s a no-win situation because you need to breathe.

I have been exercising for years. But last year, I was diagnosed with cough variant asthma (Yes, I have been coughing a lot even when I was exercising and doing other things). My first question, after the diagnosis, was what workouts are good for me? Of course, most of the people that I talked to did give me one answer that I will mention. I have included some more exercises that I have tried so that you can get fit and, at the same time, breathe easily.

1. Yoga

It is the workout that most people I talked to say is suitable for those with asthma. They are right because it doesn’t involve the intensity that most intense aerobic exercises have. It helps improve your posture, and your chest muscles will open up for you to breathe better. Plus, you learn to control your breathing, which makes you calmer and less stressed.

(2) 15-Minute Healing Yoga Protocol For Asthma — YouTube

But, not everyone can bend like a pretzel. I know that I can’t. But, not to worry, you can go out and buy some yoga blocks or use a towel to help you with some of these problematic moves.

(2) How to Use Yoga Blocks to Advance Your Practice, Passive Backbends, Back Pain Stretch — YouTube

Yoga is not the only exercise that is great for people with asthma. Here are more…

2. Walking

It is something that we all don’t do enough of every day. Yet walking is the best workout for everyone. And the best place to walk is in nature. But since most of us do live in the Northern Hemisphere, not everyone wants to go outside during winter.

Walking is great for your lungs because you get to breathe in the fresh air. However, some of you might have allergies to things outdoors like pollen. For that, you have to prepare yourself before you go out to enjoy the outdoors.

If you have the money, you can go and buy a treadmill to walk on. I could also say buy a membership to a gym, but we are still in a pandemic.

3. Lifting Weight or Strength Training

Get yourself some 3 or 5 lb. weights or lift some heavy stuff around the house like milk jugs and start lifting those.

Weight lifting does help strengthen your chest and improve lung capacity. Thus, allowing you to breathe better without your chest tightening up, or you wheezing, and coughing.

4. Resistant Bands

This is another way to shed pounds. These bands help you become more flexible and robust. Just be careful about how you use them. You don’t want it snapping back at you.

5. Seated Exercises

There is that saying that sitting is the new smoking. Don’t believe that. You can exercise while you sit, and it is not just your fingers doing the movements. But Seated Exercises are not only great for people with asthma but anyone with reduced mobility.

(2) Chair Cardio for Fat Loss: Seated No Impact Fitness Class — YouTube

6. Low-Intensity Aerobic Workout.

It is different from the High Intensity one or HIIT. Low-Intensity Workouts will not have you run or jump. But this will keep your heart rate up without you constantly coughing or wheezing.

Low-Intensity Aerobics is better for people with asthma because there isn’t too much stress on the lungs, unlike its counterpart.

(2) 30 Minute Low Impact Workout to Torch Calories | Class FitSugar — YouTube

Conclusion

Those are the exercises that I have tried that don’t cause any asthma flare-ups. I am pretty sure there are more that I haven’t tried that you should too. If I missed one, please let me know in the comments.

References

British Columbia Lung Association. (2020, June 23). Resistance Band Exercises. British Columbia Web Association. https://bc.lung.ca/patient-support/how-stay-active-home/resistance-band-exercises

Meth, M. (2020, January 28). All About Asthma and Exercise. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/asthma/exercise-for-asthma

Realbuzz Team. (n.d.). Exercising With Asthma. realbuzz.com. https://www.realbuzz.com/articles-interests/health/article/exercising-with-asthma/

Sullivan, C. (2020, February 27). The 8 Best Yoga Moves for People with Asthma. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/asthma/yoga-for-asthmatics

Walking for Health. (n.d.). Walking and asthma. Walking for Health. https://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/get-walking/walking-health-conditions/walking-and-asthma