Exercising with asthma can be scary. While regular physical activity is needed for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it's important to recognize that exercise is also a common trigger for asthma symptoms like coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath. Finding the right balance between staying active and managing asthma is key to staying healthy and safe.
But how can you exercise safely when you have asthma?
How to stay active with mild or exercise-induced asthma
People with mild asthma or asthma that is triggered by exercise often don’t think their condition is serious. They might say things like, “I just have mild asthma,” or “It only happens when I exercise.” But as we get older, our physical abilities naturally decline. Exercise that used to be easy can start to feel harder. Over time, even low-level inflammation in the lungs can cause lasting damage. That’s why it is important to manage your asthma early, instead of waiting until it gets worse.
Some proactive steps you can take to help control asthma when exercising include:
- Start any exercise with a warm-up period and slowly cool down at the end of exercise or activity.
- Make sure you carry your quick-relief inhaler with you. Use it 15 minutes before you start exercising or as your healthcare provider recommended.
- Think about exercising indoors if it is very cold outside, when the air quality is unhealthy or allergen levels are high.
- When exercising outdoors in cold temperatures, cover your nose and mouth with a scarf.
Learn how to use an inhaler from a UC Davis Health respiratory therapist
If you're still having trouble exercising because of your asthma, even after trying these steps, it's important to notice when your symptoms are getting in the way of your performance or daily life. That’s a good time to talk to a doctor and get checked out. Sometimes what we think is “just mild asthma” is actually more moderate disease that could benefit from additional treatment.
Learn how to connect with UC Davis Health’s Telehealth Express Care
Can I exercise if I have moderate or severe asthma?
People with more severe asthma often face different challenges. They hear “go exercise” and immediately think of what they used to do — before asthma became a factor. Then they feel discouraged when they can’t meet those expectations and end up doing nothing.
This is where pulmonary rehab comes in. People with moderate to severe asthma should ask their doctor: “Why shouldn’t I be in pulmonary rehab?” rather than “Should I be?”
These programs are made just for you and help you learn how to exercise safely with asthma. They keep track of your oxygen levels, heart rate and how your body is working while you exercise. They guide you through workouts that are both safe and helpful. Sometimes they’ll say, “You’re just out of shape, keep going,” and other times they’ll say, “This is your lung limit right now, so let’s slow down and show you how to recover.”
Learn about UC Davis Health’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program
Exercise as part of asthma therapy
Exercise is a core part of asthma therapy. It helps maintain strength and endurance, which supports better respiratory function.
If you have asthma, don’t shy away from physical activity. When you stop exercising, your muscles — including those involved in breathing like your chest, back, and abdominal muscles — can become deconditioned. That creates a spiral where reduced fitness makes breathing harder, which discourages further exercise, and so on.
People living with asthma can exercise and compete successfully, even in the World Olympics once their asthma is well-controlled. That is why all patients and their non-paid caregivers must work with their healthcare clinicians to better control their asthma each and every day.
Simple 8-week exercise plan for a healthy heart
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Struggling to manage your asthma?
Take control of your asthma at UC Davis Health’s UCAN Bootcamp, happening Friday, Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free, in-person event offers expert guidance from UC Davis Health pulmonologists and registered respiratory therapists who will work directly with participants on:
- Asthma control strategies
- Personalized treatment plans
- Inhaler technique and training
Whether you're newly diagnosed or looking to improve your current management, this bootcamp is designed to empower you with the tools and knowledge to breathe easier.
Sign up for UC Davis Health’s UCAN Bootcamp
Learn more: Tips on how to manage an asthma attack
This blog was medically reviewed by pulmonologist Samuel Louie.
