Does your asthma kick in at about the sixth block of your daily jog? When physically working hard, do you suddenly find yourself gasping for air? If you do, you may be experiencing exercise-induced asthma-and you’re in some pretty elite company. “At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, fully 20 percent of the Olympians suffered with it,” says William Ziering, MD. “In the general population now, one in ten people is thought to have it.” And you’re that one. Lucky you. Here’s what Or. Ziering recommends you do. Open your stride, not your mouth. When you open your mouth to gasp for air when exercising hard, you’re drying the back of your throat and it becomes cool, which triggers your asthma. Keep your mouth closed and breathe through your nose. Swim to dampen your asthma. Swimming is the ideal exercise for asthmatics, says Or. Ziering. Because of the high humidity, your mouth won’t dry out. “But any sport that requires shorter bursts of exercise, such as baseball, tennis, and golf, is good.” Give yourself a breather. If you run like a deer, you’re going to wear out fast. Asthmatics need to pace themselves. “Take the time to warm up, and then start out slow,” he says. Pack your asthma medicine in your gym bag. Use it before you suit up. “If you take your medicine 15 minutes before activity, you should be all right,” he says. And all you future Olympians needn’t worry. Your asthma medication is sanctioned by the Olympic committee.
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