Sports Induced Asthma In Children

By Shaz Siddiqi, MD

Allergy & Asthma Care Centers

. http://www.myallergycare.com/

More Allergy, Asthma & Infectious Disease Articles

Sports Induced Asthma In Children

Why Does Exercise Trigger Asthma?

Asthma triggered by exercise is quite common in children. As the weather improves this time of year, outdoor sports will become more popular in schools. However, many children may complain that they cannot keep up with their peers during their sporting events. It's important to realize that exercise can be the only asthma trigger in an otherwise healthy child. Normally kids breathe through their noses, which allows warm and humid air to reach their lungs. However, when they exercise they tend to breathe through their mouths and this allows colder and drier air to reach the lungs, which can be irritating to asthmatics. The result is inflammation or swelling in the lungs, along with air tube closing down and filling with mucus. This causes considerable breathing difficulties.

What Can I Look Out For?

Although it may be difficult to determine if exercise is triggering asthma or your child is just experiencing over-exertion, there are some clues to look out for.

First is the timing. Most exercise-induced asthma occurs within 15 minutes of the routine and will usually resolve within an hour of resting.

Second are the actual symptoms that often occur when asthma is involved. These include coughing fits, wheezing or a feeling of chest tightness rather than simply feeling tired or winded.

The third is the type of exercise. Sports that require prolonged continuous play such as soccer, basketball and long distance running are more likely to trigger an asthma attack. This can be worsened by playing in cold weather or being exposed to seasonal pollen that you are allergic to. Sports that require shorts bursts of activity punctuated with periods of rest, such as volleyball, swimming and baseball, are less likely to trigger an episode.

Can I Do Anything To Prevent This?

There are certain measures that can be helpful to prevent an episode of exercise-induced asthma. Avoid exercising in cold weather and environments that may have excessive amounts of dust or mold. Also avoid workout routines during an underlying infection such a cold virus. A gradual warm up and a similar cooling down period before and after exercise routines can help prevent an attack.

A doctor can also evaluate you and prescribe a regimen with albuterol or similar medication that can be used prior to any expected physical activity. This will usually prevent an asthma attack from occurring.

Do I Need To See The Doctor?

Monitoring for asthma signs is helpful, but you should always consult with your doctor to determine if your child is having asthma provoked by exercise. An allergy specialist evaluation is critical in determining whether your child is having asthma and whether allergens are involved in the triggering process. The specialist can guide you in determining a prevention and treatment plan that would best suit your child.