World Asthma Day: physical activity, still synonymous with anxiety for some asthmatics

2023-05-02 10:32:01

On the occasion of World Asthma Day, a pathological condition that affects more than 4 million people in France, Ifop publishes a survey carried out for the giant Sanofi.

Conducted by online questionnaire from March 17 to 29, 2023, with a representative national sample of 5009 people aged 15 and over, including 1111 people affected or having already been affected by asthma (including 742 current asthmatics), the survey focuses on asthmatic people’s relationship to physical activity.

It turns out that nearly 2/3 of asthmatics (65%) practice at least one physical activity per week, either, surprisingly, more than non-asthmatics (61%). However, a majority of asthmatics (68%) consider that asthma is a real handicap to becoming a top athlete. A figure that rises to 80% for severe asthmatics, and 77% for those with poorly controlled asthma.

60% of severe asthmatics consider that the practice of physical activity (including housework, gardening, sexual activity) is and “challenge”, even a source of anxiety (for 43% of them, once morest 23% for all asthmatics).

The survey highlights the importance of “control your asthma”, via appropriate treatments, since these figures are even higher among respondents with poorly controlled asthma.

On a daily basis, these figures translate into avoidances and therefore obstacles to a life as normal as possible: “39% of asthmatics have already avoided running following a bus (62% for severe asthmatics) and 34% have already avoided taking the stairs (56% for severe asthmatics)”, according to the press release (Source 1).

In a document dated last December, the Haute Autorité de Santé recalls that studies “show the interest of regular physical activity and exercise retraining in the management of asthmatic disease”. Physical activity helps to better control asthmaimprove exercise tolerance (and therefore the risk of exercise-induced asthma),increase the number of days without respiratory discomfort and even reduce signs of anxiety and depression.

The HAS invites asthmatics to discuss their sports practice with their doctor and the possibilities available to them depending on their type and degree of asthma. let’s remember that horseback riding, scuba diving, cold endurance activities (cross-country skiing, shopping, etc.) can be contraindicated in some cases.

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