You might remember a time when kids who had asthma were discouraged from playing sports and told to take it easy. That's no longer the case. Being active, working out, and playing sports does more than help a child with asthma stay fit, maintain a healthy weight, and have fun - it can actually strengthen a child's breathing muscles and help the lungs work better.
For these reasons, your child's doctor may recommend exercise as part of the asthma treatment plan. If you have your doubts about whether sports and asthma mix, consider all the professional and Olympic athletes who have asthma. In 1996, nearly 17% of U.S. Olympic athletes had asthma and 30% of them won medals.
There are two important messages about sports participation that you can send to your child with asthma:
- Your child's asthma must be under control in order for him or her to play sports properly.
- When your child's asthma is well controlled, he or she can - and should - be active and play sports just like anyone else.
Of course, some sports are less likely to pose problems than others for people with asthma. Swimming, leisurely biking, and walking are less likely to trigger asthma flare-ups, as are sports that require short bursts of activity like baseball, football, gymnastics, and shorter track and field events.
Endurance sports, like long-distance running and cycling, and sports like soccer and basketball, which require extended energy output, may be more challenging. This is especially true for cold-weather sports like cross-country skiing or ice hockey. But that doesn't mean your child can't participate in these sports if he or she truly enjoys them. In fact, many athletes with asthma have found that, with proper training and medication, they can participate in any sport they choose.
To keep asthma under control, it's important that your child take his or her medicine as prescribed. Skipping controller medication can make symptoms worse, and forgetting to take a prescribed medication before exercise can lead to severe flare-ups and even emergency department visits. Your child should carry rescue medication at all times, even during workouts, in case of a flare-up.
It's also a good idea to keep triggers in mind. Depending on his or her triggers, you child may want to:
- Skip outdoor workouts when pollen or mold counts are high.
- Wear a scarf or ski mask when training outside during the winter.
- Make sure he or she always has time for a careful warm up and cool down.
These recommendations should be included in the asthma action plan you create together with your child's doctor.
You should also make sure that your child's coach knows about your child's asthma and his or her asthma action plan. For a young child, you might want to provide the coach with a copy. An older child should keep a copy with him or her, as well as any medication that could be needed to treat a flare-up.
Most importantly, your child and your child's coach need to understand when it's time for your child to take a break from a practice or game so that flare-ups can be managed before they become emergencies.
Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: June 2007
