Does 15 minutes of running in gym class leave you coughing and wheezing, with shortness of breath, tightness in your chest, and a killer headache? You may have exercise-induced asthma (EIA), asthma triggered by physical activity. And you’re not alone. Researchers at the University of Colorado have found that as many as nine out of ten kids with asthma list exercise as one of their triggers.

Why playing ice hockey can be hard on your lungs

When you’re not working out, you usually breathe through your nose. On its way through the nose, cool, dry outside air gets warmer and more humid — more like the environment inside your body. This makes breathing easier and more comfortable.

Exercise is a different story, however. You need more oxygen, so you breathe through your mouth to take in the extra air. If you have asthma, your airway may begin to tighten as all that cool, dry air goes straight into your throat and lungs. This is what can cause an asthma episode. The colder the air you breathe as you exercise, the worse your symptoms may be, which is why playing outdoor winter sports can be especially hard on your lungs.

If you have EIA, you can absolutely keep working out. You don’t have to quit the team or even miss a practice. One solution: choose indoor sports such as swimming, which let you breathe warm, humid air. Many top athletes who grew up with asthma have found success in the swimming pool, including 1996 Olympic swimmers Tom Dolan and Amy Van Dyken, and gold-medal diver Greg Louganis.

Also, sports with lots of down time (like baseball) let you take rests between bursts of activity. This helps slow down — and warm up — your breathing. No matter what your favorite sport is, as long as you work closely with your doctor, you can probably find a way to play.

Playbook for asthma management

In the pool, on the track, or on the field, here are a few strategies to keep EIA from slowing you down:

1. Mind your medication. Your doctor can prescribe daily medication to prevent asthma episodes. Or, he or she may recommend taking inhaler medication about 15 minutes before your workout. Always take your medication in the right amount, at the right time.
2. Warm up. Warming up before a workout can help reduce the symptoms of EIA. Start with a 5- to 10-minute warm-up, followed by 10 to 15 minutes of easy exercise, before going all out.
3. Drink up. Researchers at the University of Buffalo have found that dehydration can worsen symptoms of EIA. Drink at least 8 oz. of water before your workout, and drink the same amount for every hour you exercise.
4. Getting warmer . . . If possible, exercise in a warm, humid environment. But here are some hot tips for ice hockey players and outdoor winter athletes. Wearing a mask or scarf when you exercise helps you breathe warm air in a cold environment. Breathing through pursed lips can also help warm the air before it reaches your lungs.
5. Be prepared. Keep your inhaler handy on the sidelines. Tell a friend where your inhaler is before practices and games, so he or she can run to get it if necessary.
6. Know when to take it slow. If you have a respiratory infection like a cold or flu, you’re especially likely to have trouble breathing during a workout. So it’s best to take it easy until you’re feeling better. Also, exercising in extremely cold weather or in areas where there’s a lot of air pollution can increase your chances of having an asthma episode.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 at 9:27 pm and is filed under Teens. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.