If your child is asthmatic … try exercise and sport!

[9 June 2010 - 14h56]
[mis à jour le 9 June 2010 à 14h58]

To say it again one last time – the fact that your child has asthma is no reason for them not to take part in sport. In fact the opposite is true: sport is strongly recommended for children with asthma.

However, the first – and possibly most difficult – thing to remember is that it’s essential to follow the basic treatment your doctor has prescribed. Of course nobody wants to be compelled to follow medical treatment when they are not feeling ill. But maintaining good control of the disease is fundamental. Chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which is what causes asthma attacks, must be halted in order to enjoy sport in comfort.

Asthma sufferers have to be particularly careful to grade their exercise level according to their respiratory comfort. More than 3 sufferers in 4 fall victim to what doctors call asthma of effort which takes the form of breathlessness, coughing and wheezing. On ceasing exercise, or 5 to 15 minutes later, the bronchial tubes contract and this is what can produce an asthma attack.

When recognised, asthma of effort can be effectively prevented … by prescribing medication and by taking a few elementary precautions – such as beginning and ending periods of exercise in a gradual way. Another important piece of advice for asthmatic children is to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth during exercise, breathing out more slowly than breathing in and making sure to breathe with the whole of the abdomen. As with anyone doing sport, it is essential to keep well hydrated before and after exercise. In fact, the only time when practising a sport is not advisable for asthma sufferers is when there is a lot of pollution.

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