How Diet and Exercise can Help Prevent Asthma Attacks

Suffering an asthma attack can be a frightening experience.  As you gasp for air and begin to panic, you likely reach for your trusty inhaler to open your airways and put a swift end to the attack.  But what if you could change your habits to focus on prevention rather than reaction?  What if you could reduce the frequency and severity of your attacks simply through diet and exercise?  Wouldn’t you rather stop attacks before they even start?  Of course!  Who wouldn’t?  If you are one of millions of people who suffer from ongoing asthma (whether mild, moderate, or severe) and you want to find an alternative or supplemental treatment for your condition, then you are in luck because a proper diet and regular exercise can improve your overall health, including asthma.

Just as a disclaimer, you should be aware that rescue inhalers will likely follow you all the days of your life, regardless of lifestyle changes, and you should check with your doctor before beginning any new regimen, especially if your asthma attacks are brought on by exercise.  That said, there are plenty of health benefits to implementing a diet and exercise routine into your life.  Of course, there is no miracle cure.  There aren’t any specific foods that will magically make you asthma free.  However, certain foods are suspected of helping to curb and reduce the symptoms of asthma (although further testing still needs to be done).

Caffeine, for example, is known to have bronchodilating properties.  And those with diets high in fruits, vegetables, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids (think of a Mediterranean diet) seem to have less occurrence of asthma.  Antioxidants, in particular, protect cells from damage, which could play a key role in the prevention of asthma and other ailments.  However, many researchers feel that inconclusive evidence from testing suggests that a complex interaction of nutrients is the real cornerstone of health and longevity, meaning that no one food in particular can be said to prevent or reverse asthma symptoms.  In truth, a healthy diet keeps you strong, boosts immunity, and ultimately shores up your body’s defenses against airborne pathogens that can cause respiratory illness or infection and lead to severe asthma attacks.

Exercise, on the other hand, is pretty cut and dry.  While those who are prone to exercise-induced attacks should certainly avoid strenuous activity (or at least consult a doctor or specialist before attempting a new regimen), many asthma sufferers find that working out has a lot of benefits beyond the overarching rewards of weight loss and fitness.  Even those that have severe symptoms can find ways to get fit by simply walking or participating in non-strenuous activities like hiking or biking rather than sitting in front of the tube or spending all day on Facebook.  And if cardio exercise is an option (that doesn’t carry a serious health risk), then it can definitely improve overall body function, including that of the respiratory system.  In fact, many athletes have achieved greatness in their chosen sport despite being lifelong asthma sufferers (like NFL running back Jerome Bettis and Olympic gold-medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, just to name a couple).

While changing your diet and exercise may not directly affect your asthma related symptoms (although many researchers think it does), it will certainly affect them indirectly as you improve your overall health and body function.  You can reduce illness, increase your immune function and respiratory capabilities, and get in shape at the same time.  And although each individual will have to tailor a routine that works for them, diet and exercise are a huge part of a adopting a healthier lifestyle, one that could significantly reduce the need for reactionary practices.

Sarah Danielson writes for Spirit Pins, a company that specializes in custom lapel pins and sports team trading pins.