Exercise, physical activity, and asthma

Author(s):  
Helge Hebestreit ◽  
Susi Kriemler ◽  
Thomas Radtke

The incidence of asthma in children varies among countries and can be estimated to range between 5% and 20%. Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is common in patients with asthma but can also occur in some children without asthma. Typical symptoms of EIA include cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath shortly after exercise. The pathophysiology of EIA is not completely understood, but it has been shown that airway cooling and drying with increased ventilation during exercise and airway re-warming after exercise play a pivotal role. In addition, a lack of physical activity may also contribute to EIA. Regular exercise may increase fitness and psychological well-being but may also positively influence airway inflammation in children with asthma. The diagnosis of EIA is based on the typical history and may be verified by an exercise challenge test. Every child with EIA should be able to engage in all type of physical activities.

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 795
Author(s):  
Yifan Zuo ◽  
Mu Zhang ◽  
Jiayu Han ◽  
Kevin W. Chen ◽  
Zhanbing Ren

The objective of the present study was to examine the associations between residents’ physical activity, health values, and well-being during isolation. On the basis of the physical activity rating scale, health values scale, subjective well-being scale, and the satisfaction with life scale, we collected 505 valid questionnaires online from 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China. A series of multiple linear regression models were established to study the relationship between variables, and the bootstrap confidence interval was selected to test the mediating effect. The results showed that during the period of isolation, physical activity directly (b = 0.463, p < 0.001) or indirectly (b = 0.358, p < 0.001) had a positive impact on residents’ well-being through the mediating effect of health values. There was a positive correlation between physical activity and health values (b = 0.710, p < 0.001), while health values had a direct positive association on well-being (b = 0.504, p < 0.001). In addition, a moderate amount of physical activity was found to be more associated with the well-being of residents during home isolation compared to small and large amounts of physical activity. This study shows the importance of residents’ physical activities in home isolation. Moderate exercise at home and regular physical activity are beneficial to our physical and mental health, especially in terms of improving overall well-being.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1434
Author(s):  
Kashyap Buch ◽  
Vinayak Chauhan

Background: Asthma is a common chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. It causes recurring period of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and coughing.Methods: A questionnaire, spirometry, direct and indirect airway challenge tests, exhaled nitric oxide, and skin-prick tests were administered prospectively to 100 out of 120 firefighters employed in Bhuj district, Gujarat, India. Asthma was defined as the combination of respiratory symptoms with airway hyper responsiveness.Results: Twenty out of 100 firefighters (12%) had physician-diagnosed asthma, which could be confirmed in 8 firefighters. In contrast, asthma was diagnosed in 28% (28 of 100 firefighters). Wheezing was the most sensitive symptom for the diagnosis of asthma (sensitivity, 88%; specificity, 90%).Conclusions: Asthma was considerably under diagnosed in firefighters. The combination of a structured symptom questionnaire with a bronchial challenge test allows identifying patients with asthma and should routinely be used in the assessment of active firefighters and may be of help when evaluating candidates for this profession.


2013 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-121
Author(s):  
Simona Šarotar-Žižek ◽  
Sonja Treven ◽  
Vesna Čančer

Abstract Stress greatly affects not only people but also organizations. Therefore it is very important to prevent and manage stress and at the same time maintain well-being of employees. This paper presents two main groups of approaches: the organizational and the individual ones, with which individuals (managers/employees) can manage stress. The paper also presents the results of the empirical research on stress, which was conducted among managers and employees in Slovenian organizations in 2011. The analysis shows which individual and organizational approaches to overcoming stress are most commonly used. The highest percentage of employees implement the following techniques of individual approaches: physical activity, followed by eating healthy food and getting a massage. However, the research results about organizational approaches show that the highest attention was devoted to organization of work and the lowest to physical activities, stimulated by the firm. Furthermore, intergenerational adaptation is not widely used to prevent and overcome stress.


Author(s):  
Michael F. Roizen ◽  
Jeffrey D. Roizen

Eighty observational association studies and several controlled trials provide strong evidence that exercise, done in appropriate amounts and with appropriate techniques, can dramatically enhance well-being and decrease morbidity and mortality. This chapter summarizes the available evidence so that healthcare providers can write rational prescriptions for physical activity for patients that allow minimal activity for maximum health benefit. In brief, doing four physical activities weekly—(1) any kind, (2) strength building, (3) bone strengthening (jumping), and (4) stamina building—and avoiding prolonged (> 1 hr) inactivity by walking for two minutes every hour—provides maximal morbidity and mortality benefit.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 392-393
Author(s):  
◽  

Airway obstruction often develops in children with asthma after physical exertion. This exerciseinduced bronchoconstriction on asthma is not limited to children with asthma but also occurs in children with allergic rhinitis without clinically necognizable asthma. Typically, 5 to 8 minutes of vigorous exercise is sufficient to make the child short of breath, and symptoms of coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing begin shortly afterward. Chest pain, shortness of breath, and/on chest tightness may be the only complaints. Usually, within ½ to 1 hour, the episode subsides spontaneously. Some children appear to also have a delayed (4 to 12 hours) response to exercise, with the same symptoms that were present immediately after exercise. The severity of such an attack of exercise-induced asthma depends on many factors. Children with poorly controlled asthma may have increased airway obstruction with trivial exercise such as walking or climbing a flight of stairs. The severity of obstruction at the onset of exercise may contribute as well, because an attack that begins with partially obstructed airways may end with more obstructed airways. The cold, dry ambient air significantly increases obstruction, as do many industrial pollutants, particularly sulfur dioxide. Both reactivity and obstruction may worsen with or after a viral infection on with allergen exposure, so that an asthmatic child's response to exercise may vary dramatically from day to day. The exercise itself is an important variable but is individualized. Strenuous exercise increases the severity of the asthma and a short, intense effort may induce exercise-induced asthma as well as a longer, less intense effort.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Love ◽  
Stamatis Agiovlasitis

Adults with Down syndrome (DS) tend to have low physical activity levels, which may relate to how they perceive participation in physical activities. The current study entailed interviews with 30 adults with DS (age 18–71 yr, 18 women) to examine how they perceived physical activity, exercise, and sport. Through qualitative analysis informed by grounded theory, the investigators found that adults with DS have positive perceptions of physical activity that center on enjoyment. Three facets of enjoyment were identified: interaction, achievement, and process. Interaction reflected enjoyment of social contact with others including relatives, peers, caregivers, and animals. Achievement involved enjoyment of achieving particular ends including accomplishment of tasks, material rewards, formation of athletic identities, and improvement of health. Process represented enjoyment from performing a particular activity itself. This multifaceted enjoyment expressed by adults with DS may facilitate physical activity and should be considered when developing programs to improve their well-being.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Jane Liva ◽  
Wendy Anne Hall ◽  
John Oliffe

Abstract Background Challenges with engaging in postnatal physical activity can negatively affect the health of women and their families. This study investigated women’s physical activity decision-making processes and strategies to support their physical activity as part of a healthy postpartum transition. Methods Thirty healthy women with infants aged 2.5–12 months completed 3-day activity diaries and an individual interview. Using Glaser and Charmaz’s grounded theory methodology, the core category, reconciling relationships with physical activity, was constructed, which explained women’s processes of postnatal physical activity decision-making. Results Through reconciling relationships with physical activity, women discerned the types of physical activity they were comfortable pursuing at various points in the postpartum transition. Based on the meaning physical activity held for participants and their views about risks, supports, and resources, women gauged their capacity and the workability of their physical activity desires. Most women were uncertain of their capacity (physical, emotional) to return to physical activity and viewed the achievement of several or all of their desired physical activities as unworkable. Only a small group of women fully pursued the desirable physical activities they viewed as important for their well-being. Women adjusted the strategies they used to achieve physical activity when their expectations of capacity and workability did not align with their experiences. Some women lacked access to resources or supportive messaging about postpartum physical activity and downgraded their physical activity pursuit after negative personal physical or childcare experiences. Conclusions Women can benefit from discussions about physiological birth recovery and navigating community and peer resources to support physical activity access and the safe return to physical activity following birth.


2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Klain ◽  
Cristiana Indolfi ◽  
Giulio Dinardo ◽  
Marcella Contieri ◽  
Fabio Decimo ◽  
...  

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a transient airflow obstruction, typically 5–15 min after physical activity. The pathophysiology of EIB is related to the thermal and osmotic changes of the bronchial mucosa, which cause the release of mediators and the development of bronchoconstriction in the airways. EIB in children often causes an important limitation to physical activities and sports. However, by taking appropriate precautions and through adequate pharmacological control of the condition, routine exercise is extremely safe in children. This review aims to raise awareness of EIB by proposing an update, based on the latest studies, on pathological mechanisms, diagnosis, and therapeutic approaches in children.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document