Singing with Asthma can be challenging but It hasn’t stopped the careers of many famous singers such as Bono, Harry Styles and Pink. Learn more about how to control the effects of Asthma.
Are you having troubles with shortness of breath while singing? Are you gasping for air by the end of your performance?
Have the high notes become difficult to hit because you do not have enough air?
Don’t worry, there are millions of people who are experiencing the same problems. When you do not have enough air, your voice will not sound full and it will be difficult for you to hit most of your notes.
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Can I Sing If I have Asthma?
It is very important to fix this problem if you wish to be a better singer. The audience wants to hear your beautiful voice clearly, not what sounds like a person who just ran a marathon! Although there is no “quick fix,” we can help you get through these problems.
Yes, here are some well known singers who have asthma but are super successful.
Singers with Asthma
- Bono
- Judy Collins
- Coolio´
- Alice Cooper
- Jonathon Davis
- DMX
- Eminem
- Kenny G
- Billy Joel
- Wynonna Judd
- Pink
- Harry Styles

Does Asthma Affect Singing?
There are many possible reasons as to why you may be having breathing issues. A very common health issue which many people would not think to relate to singing is asthma.
Asthma is an inflammatory disease which causes your airways to constrict and can lead to wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
Usually people only see asthma symptoms while exercising- this is called athletic induced asthma. Athletic induced asthma will affect your performance abilities drastically if you dance while you sing. However, there are other variations of this disease which affect people in every day activities.

Vocal Steamers
How to Sing with Asthma
If you have trouble breathing throughout the day or especially when you exercise, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to check for asthma.
There is no painful test or anything of that sort which you must go through. Usually your doctor can tell you if you have some form of asthma after one simple breathing test.
Steam Inhalers for Singers
If it turns out that you do have asthma, your breathing problems may be solved very easily. You will be prescribed an inhaler which should be used per doctor’s orders.
Be sure to inform him/her about your breathing problems while singing. They may tell you to use the inhaler just before you sing.
Usually, after people are able control their asthma with an inhaler, breathing problems go away quite fast and hopefully you can sing better.
Harry Styles Inhaler

Having an inhaler (if you have asthma) should improve your breathing control dramatically while singing. Harry Styles did not let it get in the way of his dream to become a singer.
Asthma is the first underlying problem to look for. If you do not have asthma, do not worry! There are other possibilities that may be causing you problems.