Guidelines For Triathletes With Asthma
People with asthma can participate in athletic activities just like everybody else without getting attacks or other asthma symptoms. It is important to now note that these activities are even encouraged since they improve one’s lung function. The only difference between you and other participants is that you will have to exercise a lot of care when exercising. Ensure that you only exercise or take part in triathlons when your asthma is in a controlled state. The effects of asthma on a person’s lungs are reversible and so this means that you have as much opportunity as a person without asthma. This article seeks to give the reader a few tips aimed at helping asthmatic triathletes.
Firstly, ensure that you have the right diagnosis. Treating an ailment you are not completely sure about is quite a challenge and hence the need to be totally sure about what you are dealing with. A number of triathletes think that coughing and wheezing are signs of asthma but it is important to note that sometimes, they are symptoms of other illnesses. Before you get on any treatment whatsoever, ensure that you get yourself checked by a certified doctor because you could be on treatment for the wrong illness.
Secondly, ensure that you fully understand your limits. Triathletes are involved in a lot of cardiovascular exercises that could trigger asthma attacks because they are very strenuous on the heart and the lungs. Asthmatic triathletes need to know just how far they are supposed to push their bodies so as to avoid getting attacks. It is important to ensure that you ease your body into increasing speed or endurance because doing it too fast could trigger an attack.
As a precautionary measure, ensure that you do not leave your house without your inhaler. Having it with you will help you when you start to experience any symptoms. As a means of preventing the occurrence of symptoms, some triathletes prefer to use their inhalers before the start of their exercises here. Before you decide to do this yourself, ensure that you ask your doctor if it is necessary or safe for you.
Fourthly, you should ensure that you are honest about your condition. Even though you do not want to get pity for being asthmatic, ensure that you let people know because this will help them know how they should handle you in case of an attack. If you are uncomfortable about speaking up, ensure that you wear a medical bracelet or necklace since it will let people know of the condition you are ailing from in the event of an attack and cannot speak.