Asthma: exercise may help prevent asthma attacks
24 April 2009
Regular physical activity can benefit older people with asthma, a study has found (Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009, in press).
Among 2,800 women aged 63 years with asthma from the US Nurses’ Health Study, those who reported regular leisure activities, such as walking, swimming, cycling or playing tennis, were less likely to have a self-reported emergency doctor or hospital visit.
More than one in 5 of the women suffered at least one exacerbation (flare-up) in the follow-up period. The researchers found the higher the overall level of physical activity, the lower the risk of having an exacerbation. However, they noted that fear of exercise-induced asthma attacks might lead to avoidance of physical activities, and their study did not examine exercise-induced exacerbations.
Two-thirds of the women had mild to moderate persistent asthma, more than half were former or current smokers, and most were overweight or obese.
Last Reviewed: 24 April 2009
- 1. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009, in press
