Friday, May 30, 2008

Health Tips for May 30

Health Tip: Dealing With Exercise-Induced Asthma

Exercise-induced asthma may be characterized by difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing and tightness in the chest after working out.

Here are suggestions for people with exercise-induced asthma, courtesy of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology:

* Try swimming, especially in a heated indoor pool. The warm, humid environment may help minimize symptoms for people with exercise-induced asthma.
* Try walking, biking or hiking at a leisurely pace.
* Try sports that offer frequent periods of rest, such as baseball, short -distance track, surfing, wrestling and football.
* Avoid cold-weather sports, or warm the air before you inhale it with a surgical mask or scarf over your mouth.
* Avoid sports that require long periods of strenuous exercise, such as soccer, basketball, field hockey and running.

Health Tip: Exercising in Hot Weather

Heat injuries range from mild forms to more serious types, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Heatstroke -- when the body's sweating mechanism quits, the skin become hot and dry, and the body loses most fluids -- can be life-threatening.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions for exercising safely in hot weather:

* Drink plenty of fluids even when you're not thirsty, and take frequent breaks during exercise.
* Get your body in good shape before hot weather hits.
* Limit outdoor exercise to early in the morning or late in the evening, avoiding the midday hours.
* Exercise more slowly and less vigorously for longer periods.
* Wear lightweight clothing, and avoid heavy gear.
* If someone looks like they're having a heat injury, seek immediate medical attention.

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