Why is the elliptical so much better for my asthma than running?

When you run, both feet leave the ground at some point, and your leg and body essentially land on the ground over and over again. This action is actually jarring, but most of your body absorbs it. The issue for you is that your core and chest and back absorb some of each landing, which causes your muscles to tense, and reduce the area for your lungs to expand. Your lungs are also jarred a bit probably, which will reduce their capacity. With asthma, you need all the capacity you can get, but your lungs are having trouble keeping up bc they can’t expand completely, and your asthma causes your body to not capture as much oxygen from your lungs. The combination of the two makes it really difficult for people with asthma to run

FWIW, people without asthma do have issues breathing while running and after running as well. That’s why runners are breathing heavy once they finish a run. They have the jarring and reduced capacity, just not the reduced transfer from asthma

Are you a mouth breather? No pun intended?

I've never though about it, but running and elliptical both make me winded. But it does take more exertion on my part to get really winded on the elliptical.

I also get more winded running on pavement than I do on a treadmill. Never doubt how much an elliptical and treadmill "help" you move a certain distance. I always feel like those machines you're kind of along for the ride, whereas with running outside, you're providing 100% of the movement required for you to move.

I don’t have asthma but I do have some nasal issues which greatly hinder my ability to breathe through my nose. Thus I have to breathe in and out through my mouth when I run. Just become more focused on your breathing when you run and you’ll build consistency so that it doesn’t bother you. It’s what has worked for me.

elliptical is great for when i'm injured. otherwise i can't stand the thing.