The Dirty Secret of Outdoor Exercise

Comments (4)
Print

Pages in this Story:

The Asthma Connection

Adding to the problem, athletes may be more prone to asthma than others. For example, 12 percent of high school athletes in an Annals of Allergies, Asthma & Immunology study had asthma, and one in six U.S. Olympic athletes at the 1998 Winter Games suffered. By comparison, asthma affects just one in 15 in the general population. One possible reason: Asthma can be induced by strenuous exercise.

"Asthma is an inflammatory disease, so the airways are chronically irritated," says Norman Edelman, MD, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association. "Even when asthma is under control, ozone and particle pollution can exacerbate inflammation and bring on an attack." Worse, pollutants like ozone narrow airways, magnifying the effects of any other allergens, and an asthmatic's pollution threshold is lower than that of the average adult.

Next: Hidden Dangers

What do you think of this story? Leave a Comment.

Related Links

SAVE EVEN MORE! Say "Yes" to Fitness® Magazine today and get a second year for HALF PRICE – 2 full years (20 issues) for just $15. You also get our new Fitness Band and Total Body Express Band Workout ABSOLUTELY FREE! (U.S. orders only)

First Name:

Last Name:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Email Address:

100% Money-Back Guarantee: You must be pleased, or you may cancel any time during the life of your subscription and receive a refund on any unserved issues – no questions asked. Fitness® Magazine is currently published 10 times annually – subject to change without notice. Double issues may be published, which count as 2 issues. Applicable sales tax will be added. E-mail address required to access your account and member benefits online. We will not share your e-mail address with anyone. Click here to view our privacy policy.

What do you think? Review this story! >

milasew wrote:

Are they trying to help gyms membership rates go up with this article? I'm sure there are health dangers in there too, with all the chlorine, cleaning chemicals, and off-gassing!

4/14/2013 02:03:05 PM Report Abuse

hailzuko1 wrote:

I always perferred to get my cardio through my exercise DVD's anyway. :/

4/27/2012 02:55:12 AM Report Abuse

mbuencon wrote:

I agree with Shawn...whats the alternative? Should I go out and purchase a teadmill?

4/26/2012 02:16:33 PM Report Abuse

Shawn.Helley wrote:

What a load of rubbish, yes running in a busy street is probably not the best for you, but Im sure that running and walking in parks ect is doing more good to you than harm, if you listened to every story like this you would end up not being able to do anything as it "might be bad for you"

4/26/2012 11:25:30 AM Report Abuse