Yet another random question!!

..I was just wondering if there were any particular forms of exercise that are better for asthmatics/particularly beneficial. I am currently trying to regain my fitness as I used to be a cross country runner but unfortunately running in the great outdoors doesnt appear to agree with them anymore!!!

Em

xx

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swimming supposed to be good if u ok with chlorine I think.

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Any form of exercise will be good, whatever you can do, but cardiovascular type exercises are probably better at building up your respiratory reserve and stamina, which will be useful to you in an asthma attack. I know that gym buffs do say that you should do a good mixture of cardiovascular and strength stuff anyway.

At this time of year, I wouldn't have thought there would be many asthmatics who would be terribly happy running around outside! Indoor activities in a controlled environment would probably be better. Is there a university or local council gym you can join? - they are usually a lot cheaper than private gyms, and should still provide a similar sort of service in terms of sorting out a personalised exercise plan that suits you.

Before I got very limited in terms of my exercise tolerance, I had been a member of a couple of different gyms, and had found that they were very good in terms of adapting their exercise programmes to suit me and come up with things that I could do. Once I stopped being able to go to the gym, I was considering getting an exercise bike or something similar at home, so that I could still do a little exercise, even if I couldn't manage a full gym programme - I might still consider doing this in the future if I can improve a little first.

Just some ideas, I'm sure those people who exercise regularly will have some better ones!

Take care

Em

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Exercise for wheezers

Hi, I like Emily suggests, have been a member of my local university gym for 7 years! I gained about half a stone in my first few months - this was cos I went i had been really ill and got too skinny. Felt better for the bit of weight - bum hurst less when sitting on settee!

I find that paying monthly is usually a waste of time as inevitably there will be weeks when you are unable to go - unless very lucky - so I pay as you go - then psychologically i feel that when i am too ill to go I am at least saving money by not going!

I do cardiovascular for a good 40 minutes. I exercise at my comfortable level I mostly do fast walking with hills (not massive). I certainly get hot and sweaty but know to slow down when I feel my chest beginning to 'burn' thats my description for it. I start off on a stepper - advised by a chest consultant to be a good rhythmical start - 5 mins. I then fast walk for 20 mins, then use the exercise bike for 10 mins and lastly either the rower or cross trainer for 10 mins. Then I start on the weight machines (have a chat in reality).

I use the weights for the upper body as another way of stretching out my chest (using only light weights).

I find going to the gym great - it really helped when I started as I was rather weak and had to come home and have a sleep after a session. I have also found people to chat to there as well and it doesnt matter how slow you are going the person next to you cannot get ahead!

I have an exercise bike and use it occasionally now in the winter when the weather is just too frosty for me to brave going out at my usual gym session time.

Hope thats not too rambly and of some help.

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I am a runner by trade (ish!) but found training in the great outdoors over last winter incredibly hard work for the old lungs. We've invested in a cross-trainer recently and I've found it great - it gives you a slow warm-up, which is ideal for asthma, and because it's relatively low-impact it's better for the joints than running. I've found that I can maintain a good aerobic range heart rate for significantly less lung exertion than when running, and there's much more control about it.

Plus it's much more motivating to just pop upstairs on the cross trainer, than going out in the cold and having to put up with the truculant teenage twins