Asthma is one of the most common atopic disorders in all stages of life. Its
etiology is likely due to a complex interaction between genetic, environmental,
and lifestyle factors. Due to this, different non-pharmacological interventions
can be implemented to reduce or alleviate the symptoms caused by this
disease. Thus, the present narrative review aimed to analyze the preventive and
non-pharmacological interventions such as physical exercise, physiotherapy,
nutritional, ergonutritional, and psychological strategies in asthma treatment. To
reach these aims, an extensive narrative review was conducted. The databases
used were MedLine (PubMed), Cochrane (Wiley), Embase, PsychINFO, and
CinAhl. Asthma is an immune-mediated inflammatory condition characterized
by increased responsiveness to bronchoconstrictor stimuli. Different factors
have been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma,
however, the treatments used to reduce its incidence are more controversial.
Physical activity is focused on the benefits that aerobic training can provide,
while physiotherapy interventions recommend breathing exercises to improve
the quality of life of patients. Nutritional interventions are targeted on implement
diets that prioritize the consumption of fruits and vegetables and supplementation
with antioxidants. Psychological interventions have been proposed as an essential
non-pharmacological tool to reduce the emotional problems associated with
asthma.
