5 Must-Know Benefits of Medication Management
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Sports and Inhalers: When to Puff Before, During, and After Exercise
Whether you’re a weekend warrior, high school athlete, or training for your next marathon, managing asthma during physical activity requires some planning. For athletes with asthma, inhalers are often part of the treatment plan.
While an inhaler helps you breathe better during practice and games, it may also help you play better. The key is knowing when to use it before, during, and after you exercise.
At MS Family Medicine Health Care, PC, Dr. Michele Reed and our team work with athletes in Mineola and Rosedale, New York, to create personalized asthma management plans, including how and when to use inhalers.
Here, we break down the best times to use your inhaler before, during, and after you exercise to help you breathe easier, perform better, and stay safer.
Asthma and sports
You may think sports are out if you have asthma, but physical activity is good for your lungs and overall health. Exercise increases lung capacity, improves circulation, and boosts endurance.
That said, exercise is a common asthma trigger, especially for those with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), previously called exercise-induced asthma. While many people with asthma experience EIB, not everyone with EIB has asthma.
Whether you have asthma or EIB, taking precautions is key to staying safe while you play, which starts with a conversation with your doctor. Your treatment plan may include inhalers at strategic times to minimize symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
Types of inhalers
Inhalers deliver medication directly into your lungs to prevent or manage asthma symptoms. There are two main types of inhalers:
Quick-relief inhalers
Quick-relief inhalers, also called rescue inhalers, contain medications that work fast to open up your airway or relax your airway muscles. You use these inhalers to prevent symptoms during exercise or relieve symptoms during an attack.
Long-term inhalers
Long-term inhalers are medications you take daily to prevent asthma attacks. They work by keeping your airway open (dilated) and reducing inflammation.
Depending on the severity of your asthma, we may prescribe only quick-relief inhalers or both quick-relief and long-term treatments.
When to puff for sports
Because exercise is a trigger for your asthma, knowing when to use your inhaler is essential. Timing and frequency vary based on individual needs, but here are some general guidelines:
Before exercise inhaler use
Most people with asthma and EIB benefit from using a quick-relief inhaler 10-30 minutes before practice, games, or workouts. Pre-exercise use of your inhaler may prevent symptoms from disrupting your play or game.
If your doctor has you using a long-term inhaler to manage asthma, you should use it as prescribed at your usual time and dose.
During exercise inhaler use
If you start to experience wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath while exercising, stop right away and use your quick-relief inhaler. Then, wait until your symptoms go away before getting back in the game. Always listen to your body and never try to push through your symptoms.
After exercise inhaler use
It’s not uncommon for asthma symptoms to appear after you finish practice or a game, especially for folks with EIB. If this sounds like you, take a puff of your quick-relief inhaler when you feel tightness in your chest or trouble breathing.
Most importantly, you should schedule a visit with us before the season starts to talk about your asthma and treatment plan. Asthma can change over time, and our goal is to keep you safe while you participate in your favorite physical activities.
Are you having a hard time figuring out when to puff to manage your asthma during exercise? We can help. Call our office most convenient to you today or request an appointment online anytime.
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