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 Physical Activity and Asthma: Competing Concepts?
"I was diagnosed with asthma and allergies between the 2001 World Cross-Country Championships, and the 2001 US National Championship. I was relieved once I was finally diagnosed. Knowing that asthma was causing my inability to achieve my competitive peak, and having a manageable solution to control it allowed me to regain control of my athletic potential."
- Lisa Nye, Bend, Oregon
World Class long distance runner
Regular physical activity is essential for Oregonians to prevent serious health complications and to maintain our way of life. That way of life often revolves around Oregon?s year-round beauty and the renewal of different activities that comes with each season. Recent data indicate that Oregon?s "way of life" is sadly becoming one of little activity and poor nutrition.
Most Oregonians do not even get the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Physical activity is a key factor in reducing heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes - the leading causes of death for Oregonians. The American Lung Association?s motto perfectly states the connection between physical activity and asthma: "When you can?t breathe, nothing else matters."®
When you have uncontrolled asthma, walking up the stairs is a challenge, vacuuming the house is difficult, and attempting to maintain physical activity most days of the week seems impossible. Having uncontrolled asthma makes it hard to "get moving," yet we know that moving is critical in the prevention of many chronic diseases. While asthma is not a leading cause of death in Oregon, it is one of the barriers to maintaining physical activity. The good news is that asthma is a controllable chronic disease. When asthma is controlled, people with asthma of all ages and levels of physical fitness can and should participate in physical activity. Throughout this issue of A View of Asthma in Oregon we will discuss the various strategies that help control asthma and how those strategies can help Oregonians with asthma increase their physical activity.
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