Don’t Let Asthma Sideline Your Child

You may think that because your son has asthma, he can’t join the football team. However, this belief could not be further from the truth. With help from The Children’s Hospital, children still can participate in sports and get the exercise they need.

About 9 million American children have asthma. Though the condition often requires lifestyle modifications, children with asthma don’t have to sit on the sidelines.

“One of the most prevalent misconceptions is that children with asthma can’t exercise at all,” said Gwen Kerby, MD, Director of the Asthma Management Program at The Children’s Hospital and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. “Limiting exercise isn’t the correct course of action — effectively managing asthma is the key to helping children stay healthy.”

Create a Plan

A primary element of asthma management should be the development of an exercise plan. With the help of a primary healthcare provider or your child’s pediatrician, parents and children can create a program of activities that will be less likely to trigger asthma symptoms.

“Symptoms like wheezing indicate that asthma is not well-controlled,” Dr. Kerby said. “The truth is that the majority of children who have their asthma under control can do whatever they want with the right exercise plan.”

Less Exercise = More Health Problems

One of the most troubling medical headlines today is the dramatic increase in childhood obesity. Propelling this epidemic is an overall decrease in physical activity, and as a result, many children with asthma aren’t getting the exercise they need.

Asthma sufferers who get limited exercise are more likely to become obese. The cycle is then continued because obesity can further complicate asthma symptoms by putting additional stress on airway function.

Get in the Game

Although every individual has specific symptom triggers, team sports that require short energy bursts — such as baseball, gymnastics and football — tend to be more compatible with asthma sufferers than endurance sports like soccer or distance running.

Through Children’s Asthma Management Program, children experiencing asthma symptoms can undergo necessary testing to determine their levels of lung functioning, which can identify appropriate levels of activity to keep symptoms under control and avoid complications. After an expert at Children’s reviews the test results, a plan can be developed so children can take part in daily exercise activities. 

“All children need to exercise,” Dr. Kerby said. “It is our job to create a plan that accommodates each asthma patient.”

For more information about The Children’s Hospital’s Asthma Management Program, visit www.thechildrenshospital.org and click on “Conditions We Treat,” then “Asthma, Breathing and Lung.”