What kinds of exercise are better?• Themostimportantmessageisthatanybodywith asthmamustbeabletoexercisefreelyandmustbe abletoparticipateinanysporttheychooseorare goodat.• Swimmingisagoodsportforasthmatics.• Shortbursttypesofexercisearebettere.g.sprinting.• Longerdistancerunning,whereanasthmaticrunsat aboutthreequarterspacefor6-10minutes,ismore likelytocausecoughingandtightnessofthecheste.g. crosscountryormarathonrunning.
What if we like running long distances but cannot swim well?Continuerunningandusethesimplemethodsoutlinedbelowtomake sure your asthma is under control and to preventsymptomsduringexercise.
What can I do to improve my own or my child’s exercise tolerance?Use the asthma pumps to prevent exercise-related chesttightness.Becomefitanddonormalactivitiesasexerciseisgoodforeveryone.Thisusuallyallowspeopletocopebetterwithasthma.
How do you prevent your child from developing exercise-induced wheezing or coughing?• Usearegularcontrollerasthmapumptokeepasthma undercontrol.• Ifthereiscoughingorwheezingwithexercisebutnot atothertimes,andyourdoctoragreesthatyourasthma isotherwiseundercontrol,thesecanbepreventedby usingsimpleandsaferelievermedications(asthma pumps)beforeexercise.
Examples of effective reliever medications include inhaler pumps and dry powder inhalers. Make sure you know which pump is your reliever and which is your controller! (see leaflet “Asthma medicines and how they work”).
Sport and Asthma
WrittenbyProfRobinGreen(2008)(Revised2012)
BasedonanoriginalbyDrFredNagel
Peoplewithasthmashouldbeencouragedtotakepartinanysporttheychoose.Ifsomeonewithasthmaishavingdifficultywithsport,itmeanstheirasthmamaynotbeundercontrol.Youwillneedtoseeyourdoctortoreviewyourcontrollertreatmentandthewayyouuseyourmedicationsinorder toallowyou to liveyour life to the fullwithnolimitationsonactivitiesorsport.
How does exercise cause asthma?• Mostpeoplewithasthmacoughordevelopatightchest aftercertainkindsofexercise.Coldordryairmayact astriggerscausingtheairpipesinthelungstonarrow. Iftheynarrowslightlythepersonsimplycoughsafterthe exercise.Iftheynarrowevenmore,thechestbecomes tight.• Thisoccursafteraboutsixtotenminutesofexercise andmayinterferewiththecontinuationofsport.Ifnot recognised,thepersonwillperformtheexercisewitha partiallytightchest.Thetightchestmayopenonitsown afteranhourortwo,oritmaybecomenecessarytouse arelieverasthmapump.• Thiscoughingortightnessofthechestafterexerciseis usuallyacluethatyourasthmaisnotwellcontrolled.If yougettightchestsorcoughingwithexercise,you needtoseeyourdoctortoreviewyourasthmatreatment. Problemsduringexerciseareeasilypreventedwithsafe medications.• Somepeople’ssymptomsafterexercisearetheonly signofasthmaastheydonotcoughorwheezeatother times.
Some common questions and answers about asthma, sport and exercise
If I or my child has asthma should we be allowed to play sport?Definatelyyes.Thisisoneofthegoalsofsuccessfulasthmamanagement.Correctuseofcontrollermedicationsshouldprevent symptoms that occur with exercise in asthmaticpeople (cough,chest tightness).Asthmacannotbecuredbut canbekeptundercontrol so that thoseaffectedareabletolivenormallivesenjoyingfullinvolvementinsportandallotheractivities.
0861 ASTHMA (278462)
www.asthma.co.za
How do I treat my asthma once the exercise-related coughing or wheezing has already happened?Usearelieverbronchodilator.Controllermedicationswillnotrelievesymptomsoncetheyhavestarted.
If we get an asthma attack during a sporting event, when should the exercise be stopped?Prevention is always better than cure. If the attack occursdespite the use of a reliever medication before exercise,repeat this medication during the exercise when the chestgets tight. If thesymptomscontinue, theexerciseshouldbestopped.
Is it important to recognise ‘exercise-induced’ asthma?Yes.Thisisanimportantcluefordiagnosingasthma.Itcanbetreatedeasilyandeffectively.Ifanasthmaticpersonhasdifficulty with exercise, your asthma may not be properlycontrolled.Youmayneedmoremedicationorachange inmedication.Youwillneedtoseeyourdoctor.Heorshewillcheck ifyouhavesymptomsatother times,how frequentlyyou are taking your controllermedication andmay assessyourtechniqueofusingyourpumps.For tips on better control see leaflet “Keeping asthma under control”.
Are any asthmatics famous for sporting achievements?Many Olympic medals have been won by people withasthma.Alsomanypeoplewith asthmaachieveprovincialand national colours for their sport. Schalk Burger hasachieved sporting excellence despite having asthma andhas becomeNAEP’s “asthma ambassador”, spreading themessagethatpeoplewithasthmashouldhavenolimitationontheiractivitiesatall.Byregularuseofcontrollermedicationeveryday,asthmaticscan takepartandevenexcel inanysporttheywish.
What about Sporting Drug Control Units and the legality of inhaled corticosteroids used for asthma?Inhaledcorticosteroidsarenotthesameasanabolicsteroidsusedbysomeathletestoimprovetheirperformance.Inhaledcorticosteroids and reliever medications are allowed bysporting regulating agencies if the sportsman / womanhas asthma. However, the sporting authorities need to be
informed about the use of all medications and permissionobtainedfortheirusebeforetheevent(s).
How do I decide if I or my child has exercise-related asthma or not?Allpeoplegetbreathlessafterexercise.Ifexerciseisfollowedbycoughing,wheezingorchest tightness,exercise-inducedasthmaisverylikely.Youcanblowintoapeakflowmeterformeasuringbreathingbeforeandafterexercise.Ifthereading(peakflow)onthemeterdropsby15%ormore,itconfirmsthatyouaregettingexercise-inducedasthma(seetheleaflet“Lungfunctionsinasthma”).
How soon can we resume exercise after an attack?Ifyourpeakflowreadinghasreturnedtowithin80%ofyourpersonalnormalvalue,youareabletoexercisenormallyandsafely.Yourdoctorcanassistyouinmakingthisdecision.
Should we be encouraged to lead a completely normal life with regular competitive exercise?YES.
Are there any ways of preventing ‘exercise-induced asthma’ without using medications?As themedicationsaresafe,using themis thebestway tocontrolexercise-inducedasthma.However, if youwarmupfirstwithsomestretchingandslowrunning,theexercisethatfollowswillbemanagedbetter.
What if we get asthma all the time and cannot do strenuous exercise?Thisprobablymeansthatasthmaispoorlycontrolled.Consultyourdoctortochoosethecontrollertreatmentbestsuitedtoyourneedsortoreviewthemedicationyouareon.
Are there any sports that asthmatics should avoid?Ifyourasthmaiscorrectlymanagedandwellcontrolled,youcan usually play any sport. The only sport that asthmaticsshouldparticipateinwithcautionisscubadiving.
Join the NAEP!signuponwww.asthma.co.za
