On World Asthma Day, city’s top pulmonologist have advised asthmatic patients to perform outdoor physical activities, yoga and meditation as by doing this lung functions better. According to the doctors, there is a myth among asthmatic patients that if they do outdoor exercises, their health will be impacted.
It has been seen that those afflicted with Asthma shun physical activities such as running or brisk walking as they prefer more of indoor /desk job. Such sedentary lifestyle makes them obese. They also pointed out that obese people have poorer control on asthma and as a result their lung capacity decreases while inflammation in body increases.
Dr Bobby Bhalotra, Chest Medicine, Pulmonologist at Sir Gangaram Hospital advised patients to perform yoga, meditation and outdoor physical activities on regular basis to avoid breathing problems. “We advise patients to do these physical activities as it releases power to lungs and boosts energy,” said Dr Bhalotra.
“lot of asthmatic patients come to me and complain that if they perform physical activity, they will feel breathlessness. It is a myth. I always tell them that they should do yoga, outdoor activities accordingly take the medication,” Dr Vikas Maurya, Consultant, Respiratory Medicine at BlK Super Speciality Hospital.
Citing an example of his patient who is a nine-year-old boy, who is suffering from asthma, Dr Maurya said, “The patient is a school going student. His parents were not allowing him to play outdoor games. I told their parents that they should encourage their son to do outdoor activities as per his capabilities with proper medication,” adding that with the physical exercise lungs performs well and patients start doing well.
Dr Randeep Guleria, Head of Department of Respiratory medicine at AIIMS, said that many a times, it has been seen that asthmatic patients are obese. For them physical activity is must to keep them fit. As obese people have poor control on asthma and lung capacity decreases. They should do yoga and meditation to increase their lung capacity to stay fit. They should stop inhalers and steroids, DR Guleria added.
Doctors advise such patients to follow the preventive measures by consulting pulmonologists and keeping inhalers handy for the quick relief. They also cautioned that inhalers are not permanent solutions as they provide temporary relief.
Meanwhile, Dr KK Aggarwal, Honorary Secretary General of the IMA said that it is important for people to understand that though asthma is not curable but can be easily managed through medications and by avoiding common asthma triggers, thereby helping patients to gain control over the disease.