If you or anyone you know has asthma, then you know how unpleasant it can be to feel your airways literally tightening up as you exercise. If you like big words, that tightening is officially known as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, and it affects nearly 90% of people with asthma.
You may think the best solution is to regularly use prescription drugs and/or inhalers to combat the problem, but studies show that daily use of asthma drugs can make them less effective and lead to more lung problems over time. So, how can you perform at your best the natural way?
Doctors at Indiana University found that warming up with high intensity interval sprints can keep your lungs functioning better throughout your entire workout. They had 8 asthmatic athletes perform the same exercise routine on a treadmill. One group performed the routine without any warm-up, and their lung capacity fell by nearly 18%.
Another group first did eight 30-second sprints, resting for 45 seconds between each, then performed the same treadmill routine as the first group. However, their lung capacity dropped by only 9%, which is less than the 10% required to be classified as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.
Clearly, High Intensity Interval Training has more benefits than just burning fat. So, whether you have asthma or not, click here for more information and tips on using HIIT.
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I easily blame my lack of exercise to your big words, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. I love to run if only I don't feel like dying even for just two minutes! I have ashtma and as much as possible don't like using inhalers as they say it will weaken my heart and my lungs.
Haha, and yes I came across that same information about inhalers actually weakening the lungs over time. But, even your two minutes is better than zero!