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If you’re an active person who’s been diagnosed with asthma, you may be a bit discouraged about adding fitness goals to your 2021 New Year’s Resolutions. But don’t worry — sports and regular exercise are not beyond your capabilities. In fact, exercise can actually be beneficial for patients living with asthma. You’ll just have to take some extra precautions before and during your favorite physical activities.

At the Premier Allergist, our team of top immune system specialists in Frederick, Maryland want to empower their patients to live full, healthy lives, enjoy physical activities, and reach their own personal goals without their asthma getting in the way. Here are four essential things to remember about exercising safely while living with asthma:

Don’t Skip Your Warm-Ups

Practicing warm-ups before you start your physical activities is essential to making sure your body is well-adjusted enough to perform at its best and avoid potential injuries. However, this step is particularly important for preventing flare-ups in those living with asthma. We recommend that patients with asthma spend 5 to 10 minutes warming-up before any type of exercise, performing a low-impact activity such as walking. You can increase your speed gradually over 3-5 minutes, and then spend several minutes cooling down. Don’t forget to stretch, either — this is important for preventing injury before any activity!

Wear a Mask or Scarf

If you’re a fan of exercising outdoors, the fear of triggering your asthma can put a damper on your plans, especially in the wintertime. These fears are not unfounded — the colder the air around you is, the less moisture it contains, which can cause your airways to narrow and increase the likelihood of an asthma attack. Luckily, there is a solution that can also help you stay safe from COVID-19 and keep you warm while running, jogging or performing other forms of exercise outside in the cold: cover up! Invest in a comfortable mask or scarf that you can wear to keep a certain amount of moisture in the air as you inhale. Working out with a mask on is safe, and it’ll help you prevent a flare-up while you’re enjoying a brisk run.

Use Your Management Strategies

If you’ve been professionally diagnosed with asthma, you likely have developed a number of strategies with your allergist or primary care physician to avoid flare-ups, including an emergency inhaler. Keep anything you need to prevent and address asthma attacks easily accessible while you’re working out or playing sports, especially your inhaler! On a similar note, if you’re taking any medications for your asthma, don’t forget to do so before you hit the gym, the pavement or the field. If you’re extremely concerned about a particular activity causing asthma attacks, it may be best to avoid that activity or find a lower-impact version of it that you can perform safely.

If you need additional guidance in preventing asthma flare-ups as you exercise during this cold weather season, our highly-trained and experienced team of immunologists at the Premier Allergist is here to help. Your asthma specialist will work with you to develop a treatment plan that works for you and your individual needs.

If you’re ready to bring fitness to your 2021 resolutions without fear of asthma attacks, don’t wait — schedule an appointment with your Frederick, MD asthma specialist today!