Asthma is a continuing condition that makes simple climbing stairs into a struggle. While medication and inhalers are essential for managing and keeping balance, according to research, weight management is the most ignored factor in asthma. Obesity can affect the functionality of the lungs, and the risk of asthma increases.
Maintaining body weight isn’t just about appearance; it can have a direct impact on how often and how severely asthma symptoms occur. In this article, we will explore how weight management can help reduce the risk of asthma.
Link between Asthma and Weight
According to doctors, people who are overweight are most likely to have an increased risk of asthma. If they already have an asthma condition, it may worsen it. These factors explain why asthma attack treatment is essential for people who are overweight:
- Being overweight can increase lung function. The extra weight constricts the lungs and makes breathing difficult.
- Fat around the chest makes it hard for the lungs to fill with air, reducing the airflow.
- Extra body fat leads to inflammation in the body that results in difficult breathing.
- Being overweight can decrease exercise chances, and a lack of physical activity can weaken the respiratory muscles.
- The inflammation and metabolic changes can make it difficult for medicines to work, which may worsen the asthma.
Asthma is an inflammatory disease, so the additional inflammation can make it even worse. Hormonal and metabolic changes also contribute to it.
How Weight Loss Improves Asthma
Studies have shown that asthma can be managed efficiently with proper weight management. Studies show that people with an ideal BMI have fewer asthma attacks, less medication, and better lung function.
With the weight loss, the inflammation of the body will be reduced. This will make more space for the lungs to expand and fill with air to breathe. Weight management has also shown signs of good sleep, which in turn minimized the stress asthma trigger. Reducing weight significantly can:
- Improves the functionality of the lungs
- Reduces the medications
- Fewer symptoms of asthma
Weight loss isn’t a treatment for asthma, but it can help with the typical treatments.
Weight Management Tips
The following are tips for weight management and asthma control:
1. Regular Exercise
Proper exercise can help to reduce weight and also improve asthma control. Start with low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, and yoga, which will reduce the pressure on the lungs.
2. Proper Diet
A proper and balanced diet can help with effective weight loss without weakening the body. For weight loss, don’t cut meals from your diet; instead, make dietary changes. Limit the calorie intake, have healthy food, and stay away from processed foods.
3. Stay Hydrated
Drinking water thins the mucus that makes breathing easy and reduces the chances of a cough attack.
4. Medications
Medicines prescribed by a doctor can be good for people who are struggling with weight loss.
5. Allergens
Make sure to stay away from allergens such as smoke, strong fragrances, and dust. Also, don’t exercise in a polluted environment.