Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your lungs. It can cause repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing.  The CDC has determined that 1 in 12 people have asthma.

Keeping your Asthma under control

• Take your medicines as prescribed
• Avoid your asthma triggers (See list above for common asthma triggers)
• By working closely with your doctor or other health care provider, you should be able to learn how to control your asthma. Once it is controlled, you should be able to live a normal active life. When asthma is under control, you should have few, if any, asthma symptoms. That means:
  • No need to take time off from school or work due to asthma
  • No limits on your physical activities
  • No emergency department visits or hospital stays

Asthma and exercise

Regular physical activity is good for all of us, including people with asthma, but can also trigger symptoms either during or right after being active

The good news is that if you have good control of your asthma, exercise should not be a problem for you. In fact, most people with asthma should be able to participate in any physical activity they like without having asthma symptoms. Your healthcare provider may recommend using an inhaler about 15 minutes before exercise. This usually can prevent and control exercise-induced asthma.