So, I haven’t really addressed this topic on the blog before, but recently, I came across a soon-to-be Kickstarter campaign, that got me thinking about the issue. Krafft IT is currently developing a smartphone application called INHALE that will aggregate air quality data from the government and display it in a patent protected intuitive way. It will enable users to get predictions on air quality for the upcoming days to allow them to make informed decisions on whether or not to participate in outdoor activities given the health risks associated with overexposure to poor air quality.
I often don’t take the time to appreciate that I can normally workout without any breathing issues. Asthma is a common problem for many people and becomes even more of a problem when they exercise. Sometimes when they exercise, their asthma prevents them from being able to increase their intensity and push through the workout. For most of us, we are able to workout inside, or outside, or anywhere really (wait, where else is there to workout?!) without noticeable issues, but what we don’t realize is that the air we are breathing in while working out plays a key part in our health and the quality of our workouts, especially for those with asthma and other respiratory issues. Just to put it into perspective, studies have shown that 25% of workouts are less effective during high levels of pollution… that’s a pretty big dent!
I once worked with a client who had asthma and this was the first time that I realized how the air around us while working out can really effect our workouts. We were working out inside for a portion of the workout, but then I wanted to move outside to do some circuit work. It seemed like a nice day, but it was a little humid outside (pollen season was in full effect!). Not too long into our workout, she had a major asthma attack and it was pretty scary to see her in that state. I didn’t realize that pollen can induce asthma and it was causing her asthma to kick-in with full force.
Many of us don’t pay attention to the air we are breathing in, especially when we are working out and while we may not feel any effects from it at the moment, over time, breathing in “dirty air” can rage havoc on our lungs and respiratory systems. So, to prevent yourself from causing too much damage, here are a few tips I have for you:
1. Time your workouts smartly
Try to avoid being outdoors for too long and if you can, up your intensity to cut down your time outdoors. I recommend doing circuit workouts, Tabata and HIIT workouts instead of steady-state cardio (actually, never do steady-state cardio!) to shorten your time exercising outdoors.
2. Check the air quality
Now there is an app that can measure this called INHALE (soon to be released!)
3. Be careful
Be smart. If you have asthma or some type of respiratory issue, ask yourself if the air situation around you is truly okay. If not, try to find a place indoors, or take a rest-day and do a workout “make-up” later in the week when your situation is better.
If you’re interested in learning more about INHALE, check out their site or Facebook page and lookout for their kickstarter campaign that will help them launch their product!
Have you ever suffered from asthma or respiratory issues while exercising?