Yoga and exercise training help asthma symptoms: new study

health

by Mark Laranilla

August 11, 2023 | 2:20 PM

People with asthma have long been told to avoid exercise because it can trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks.

However, new research Published in the medical journalsubverts that longstanding advice.

Researchers conducted a meta-analysis comparing the effects of different types of exercise on lung function in more than 2,100 adults with asthma.

Some studies suggest that, contrary to conventional wisdom, certain types of exercise can actually enhance lung function in adults with asthma.

A new study evaluated five different types of exercise: breathing training, aerobic training, relaxation training, yoga training, and a combination of breathing and aerobic training.

Each type of exercise was judged based on its effect on asthma parameters, including FEV1 (forced expiratory volume, which is the amount of air a person can forcefully exhale). one second.

All five types of exercise had some effect on improving lung function, but two types of exercise were the clear winners.

“Respiratory training combined with aerobic and yoga training appears to be particularly effective, providing potential avenues for effective therapeutic approaches,” said lead author and associate professor at Henan Normal University in Henan, China. Shuangtao Xing said. said in a news release.

Breathing training includes various techniques. One, known as diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, or abdominal breathing, is a technique that focuses on the diaphragm, the abdominal muscle that controls breathing.

Other common breathing techniques used to help people with asthma include nose breathing and exhaling through pursed lips. according to healthline.

What is Asthma?

Asthma, also called bronchial asthma, is a chronic disease that affects the lungs and airways, causing difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Over 25 million people in the United States, including over 5 million children, suffer from this condition. According to the Cleveland Clinic.

During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways become tense, the lining of the airways becomes swollen and inflamed, and mucus builds up, which can block the airways. A severe asthma attack can be fatal.

exercise-induced asthma

Asthma sufferers have a variety of triggers for asthma attacks, such as mold, pollution, and allergies, and some suffer from a form of asthma triggered by physical activity, called exercise-induced asthma.

Asthma is treated with long-term control drugs, such as inhaled corticosteroids, and fast-acting drugs used during asthma attacks. These drugs can be administered as inhalers or oral tablets.

Most people with chronic illness also have a long-term asthma management plan. This depends on the person’s type of asthma, but usually avoiding triggers or using drugs is based on how certain symptoms of asthma change over time. included.

Customized Asthma Treatment Plan

Because each type of exercise has an effect on specific asthma symptoms, researchers believe the results of this study will help asthma patients and physicians arrive at treatment plans that focus on their specific type of asthma. Hope it helps.

“[It] It is essential to consider individualized factors such as family history, duration of symptoms, and environmental influences when designing exercise rehabilitation programs,” Singh said.

“To optimize treatment outcomes, it is important to tailor interventions to individual physical and mental health conditions, with careful consideration of exercise intensity, frequency and duration,” Singh added. Ta.