[lr4444lr]

As someone with asthma, let me tell you that they _do_ need to get into better shape to breathe better. Part of that is a medically proven practice called pulmonary rehabilitation, but also, regular cardiovascular exercise at different intensities and direct training of the abdominal muscles has a marked improvement both on pulmonary function (to a limit, but even more important as you age) and oxygen utilization from the reduced pulmonary function. Finally, both acid and laryngeal reflux are silent contributors to asthma by introducing acid and pepin into the airways, and weight loss can improve the symptoms of those.

[diziet]

Thank you for sharing this and elaborating on what I've seen firsthand. Another thing we've noticed is that an increase in VO 2 Max, which does take quite a bit of time to change, makes a major difference.

Altitude is another factor, due to dry and colder air and lower oxygen -- a double whammy for asthma.

[lr4444lr]

People also are often unaware that the symptoms of asthma which cause the most concern (dyspnea, tightness, etc.) are less hypoxia and more hypercapnia. Hypoxia in normal people does not feel like breathlessness: it's lightheadedness, low energy, turning blue, etc. Asthma is almost definitionally airway hyper-responsiveness (and relevant structural changes): any fitness intervention that can help improve CO2 expulsion will probably greatly help an asthmatic seek relief. This is also why in acute attacks, pursed lip exhalations can really help.