Asthma and Sports
Physical activity is a common trigger of asthma symptoms in people with asthma – but this shouldn’t prevent you from participating in sports. In fact, regular exercise can benefit asthmatic lungs by conditioning them to work more efficiently.
Is all exercise the same? No, an intense jog on a cold dry morning frequently brings on asthma; where as swimming at the same intensity in a heated pool, rarely does so.
What is exercise induced asthma (EIA)?
Exercising requires more oxygen to be sent to the muscles this results in an increased of carbon dioxide production. Thus we need to breathe more air in and out. In exercise induced asthma, the air going in causes irritant chemicals within the airtubes to cause the airway to constrict or narrow. This particularly occurs after the exercise is performed, but can happen during exercise. The factors which determine whether exercise brings on an asthma 'attack' include:
[] type of exercise (its duration and intensity)
[] sensitivity of the bronchial tubes
[] condition and temperature of the air breathed
3 Step Guide for the Asthma Athlete?
1. Controlling asthma
Before participating in sports, be sure that your asthma is under control. Controlled asthma means that you have no regular symptoms and flare-ups are rare.
Each child's asthma control will be different based on symptoms and triggers, but typically a treatment plan involves a combination of long-acting medications to control the asthma over time, and short-acting inhalers for quick relief of symptoms. Many will benefit from medication taken prior to start of exercise.
2. Choosing activities
High risk activities that are likely to trigger asthma:
Basketball
Cycling
Long-distance running
Soccer
High intensity and high endurance activities have a higher chance of affecting asthma sufferers. This is because these activities are more likely to cause symptoms, however it is still possible to participate in these sports, as long as proper medication is prepared and asthma can be controlled.
Low risk activities that aren't likely to trigger asthma:
Baseball
Golf
Sprinting
Swimming
Weightlifting
Sprinting is high intensity, but doesn't require endurance. Swimming can be high intensity and high endurance, but the warm, humid environment usually protects those with asthma from having attacks.
3. Prevention is the key
To avoid flare-ups is also important when engaging in physical activities. Preventing is usually the best way to avoid asthma attacks, rather than relying on medication. Such tips as:
Warm up and cool down. While it's a good recommendation for all athletes, warm-ups and cool-downs are especially important for those with asthma.
