Are you suffering from asthma? Here's one treatment that can cost you less and is just as effective or is a good complement to your current medication: aerobic exercise.
In a study newly published in Thorax, a group of researchers from Brazil's School of Medicine of University of Sao Paulo led by Dr. Celso Carvalho discovered that this type of exercise will not only reduce the inflammation of the bronchial tubes that will eventually narrow the air's pathways, but it also decreases its sensitivity to ease the symptoms of the disease significantly.
The small study was participated by at least 40 men and women with moderate to severe asthma. Their ages were from 20 years to 59 years old. These patients had also been under close monitoring by their doctor over the last half year or had taken medications within the last month to manage their symptoms. Those who already had other conditions affecting the respiratory system other than asthma, people who smoked, and asthma patients who already established a moderate to vigorous exercise in their routine were not considered for the study.
The researchers then divided the group into two. While all of them attended yoga classes twice a week, only the exercise group ran on a treadmill for at least half an hour twice a week.
After three months, they analyzed the results and found out that only those who belonged to the exercise group experienced a decrease in bronchial hypersensitivity and a protein called cytokines, which encourage inflammation. Further, these results show that an aerobic exercise may just as well helpful to patients who are already under medication such as bronchodilators. This means it can boost the drug's effectiveness and at the same time reduce dependency.
Despite the initial success of the study, the researchers admit to its limitations. Also, aerobic exercise may also trigger an asthma attack, although that may be prevented by using an inhaler before the exercise and ending the regimen with a proper cool-down.
