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Exercise for Children with Asthma

Dr. Leonard Bacharier treats patients at:
St. Louis Children's Hospital
One Children's Place
St. Louis MO 63110
and
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
Medical Office Building Three, Suite 110
1020 N. Mason, Creve Coeur, MO 63141

Telephone  314-454-2694

Question:
What is exercise-induced asthma? Should I keep my asthmatic 11-year-old son out of active sports?

Answer:
Exercise is an essential element of a healthy lifestyle. However, exercise may present challenges for people with asthma, as it is a common trigger of asthma symptoms, especially among children. Asthmatic patients often exercise less than they should due to a fear of experiencing an asthma episode. With appropriate therapy, they are able to participate in most athletic activities without restriction.

Proof that people with asthma can participate in sports at the highest levels is evidenced by 16 percent of U.S. Olympic athletes having asthma, a rate nearly double that of the general American population.

The symptoms of exercise-induced asthma (EIA) are identical to those of asthma triggered by other factors - shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, and/or cough. These symp-toms usually improve with rest. However, the use of an asthma rescue medication, such as albuterol, accelerates recovery.

Prevention is key to managing EIA. Several strategies are quite effective in preventing EIA. These include 1) warming up before and cooling down after exercise 2) the use of asthma medications (generally albuterol) prior to exercise and 3) the use of daily preventive asthma medications to help control all elements of asthma, including symptoms triggered by exercise.

These effective options for preventing EIA allow asthma patients to lead active lives without fear of asthma symptoms. Your son should always have a rescue inhaler available during exercise, even if he is receiving a preventive therapy. However, symptoms may still develop during cold weather, high allergen exposures, poor air quality days, and in the event of a respiratory tract infection.

You should discuss these options with your asthma care provider to determine which approach, or combination of approaches, is best for your son. You and your son’s teachers and coaches should be well-educated on the symptoms and treatment of EIA and rescue medications should be immediately available.
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Copyright 2009 Washington University School of Medicine
Copyright 2009 Washington University School of Medicine