A little sport, but not too intense. Moderate running improves the tolerance of asthmatics to the factors triggering attacks, and improves their quality of life.
Physical exercise does not harm asthmatics, on the contrary! Moderate intensity activity, such as running, can improve symptoms and quality of life. This is the conclusion of a small study published in Thorax, who compared the effect of simple breathing exercises to light running.
Forty-three asthmatics (20-59 years old) took part in this study. Before starting the intervention program, they underwent a series of tests: measuring the hypersensitivity of the bronchi, the levels of certain inflammatory proteins (cytokines) and antibodies (immunoglobulins). The subjects also undertook to complete, during the 3 months of follow-up, a logbook indicating their health problems.
A better tolerated trigger
Half of the volunteers practiced breathing exercises used in yoga, twice a week, for 30 minutes. The other half added treadmill sessions at the same pace to this program.
After three months, members of the “breathing” group did not see any improvement in their symptoms. Those who did run, on the other hand, tolerated histamine twice as well, which is believed to trigger an inflammatory reaction, responsible for causing an asthma attack. The level of cytokines fell sharply, while the number of days without asthma increased.
Physical exercise has been recommended for asthmatics for several years. Such a practice is associated with less use of inhalers and improved physical condition. But its benefit has rarely been precisely quantified.
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