Essay On The Effect Of Swimming On Asthma

The effect of swimming regularly on asthmatic patients.

Introduction

In the 2nd century A.D, exercise-induced asthma (EIA) symptoms were first described by Aretaeus the Cappadocian, a Greek physician. It is called asthma when breathing becomes difficult after running, gymnastic exercises and another form of work. EIA is also known as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) which they are frequently used interchangeably. Although both terms are used, but its pathophysiology is rather different. Based on a research in 2008, the term EIA is used to describe the symptoms and signs of asthma such as cough, breathlessness, chest tightness and wheezing which, provoked by physical exercise while EIB is used to describe as the reduction in lung function, meaning having an obstructive expiratory flow limitation after a standardised exercise test. This definition had recently confirmed in 2012 by the IOC and Wada committees. (Sorichter, 2012) Asthma is a common pediatric airway

From the regular swimming of a patients, it is said to have improve their breathing technique and increase their lung function. As swimming is contrasting from other form of exercise, swimmers learns to breath rhythmically and learn to slowly exhale under the water. Based on several experiment conducted on swimming, running and cycling, the ventilation is much lesser in swimming than running or cycling. According to the study of Wheaton College, the swimmers breathed less often and that they had decrease in minute ventilation despite trying to compensate with increased tidal volumes. They also shown increased of carbon dioxide in the alveolar with the increasing interval between breath and improve the oxygen exchange. The breathing pattern that is controlled induce the hypercapnia which result in hypoventilation that contributes to the lower risk of