Think you can't exercise because you have asthma? Think again. A surprising 23 percent of Olympians have asthma or exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB). Nearly 50 percent of all Olympic cross-country skiers have EIB. A number of sport superstars have either asthma or EIB including:
- Susan Auch, speed skater
- Donnell Bennett, football player
- Jerome Bettis, football player
- Tamika Catchings, women's basketball player
- Renn Critchlow, kayaker
- Bruce Davidson, equestrian
- Tom Dolan, swimmer
- Mary Jo Fernandez, tennis player
- Nancy Hogshead, swimmer
- Jackie Joyner-Kersee, track and field
- Bill Koch, cross-country skier
|
- Greg Louganis, diver
- George Murray, wheelchair athlete
- Robert Muzzio, decathlete
- Hakeem Olajuwon, basketball player
- Gary Roberts, hockey player
- Dennis Rodman, basketball player
- Alberto Salazar, marathon runner
- Paul Scholes, soccer player
- Isiah Thomas, basketball coach and player
- Amy VanDyken, swimmer
- Dominique Wilkins, basketball player
- Jim Ryun, long distance runner
|
Asthma is a chronic lung condition with ongoing airway inflammation. Exercise can create more swelling, and cause attacks of breathing problems. EIB is a temporary narrowing of your airways (bronchospasm) brought on by strenuous exercise. It is possible to be diagnosed with EIB without being diagnosed with asthma. About half of people with hay fever or other allergies experience EIB; one in ten normal athletes develop it.
Sports You Can Try
Breathing problems are worsened by aerobic sports (continuous, vigorous, long-lasting exercise such as running, soccer, basketball, and cross-country skiing). You might want to consider anaerobic activity instead (intermittent high exertion activities such as sprinting or weight lifting to the point of exhaustion, followed by a rest period). Breathing cold, dry air makes EIB and asthma worse; moist, warm air seems to help. For this reason, swimming is a better choice for people with asthma or EIB than skiing or ice hockey would be.
Sports relatively well-tolerated include:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Football
- Downhill skiing, using a cold air breathing mask
- Tennis
- Baseball
|
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
- Short distance track and field
- Golfing
- Gymnastics
|
Medical advances in asthma treatment have made it possible for people with asthma and EIB to participate in many sports activities – even ice-skating and scuba diving in some instances. The key is to prevent symptoms rather than simply treat them once they occur.
Tips to Control Symptoms
Your healthcare provider can work with you to establish an optimum medication regimen to help you control your symptoms. Identifying your asthma triggers and limiting your exposure to them will also help control asthma symptoms.
Triggers vary widely. Common triggers include cold air, allergens, pollutants, respiratory illnesses, or fatigue. For some people, certain foods worsen EIB. These foods include: shrimp, celery, peanuts, egg whites, almonds, and bananas. For others, eating any kind of food prior to vigorous activity can lead to anaphylaxis (difficulty breathing and a drop in blood pressure leading to unconsciousness and, if untreated, death). This reaction occurs mainly in hot, humid weather.
Taking bronchodilator or other doctor-prescribed medications prior to vigorous exercise may prevent EIB. If you're interested in competing, keep in mind that certain drugs – such as epinephrine, caffeine, or pseudoephdrine – may disqualify you from competition. Your doctor can prescribe inhaled corticosteroids that are acceptable.
Ease Into and Out Of Vigorous Exercise
Adequate warm up and cool down periods also help prevent or lessen episodes of EIB. A sample warm up would include:
- Walking or other low-intensity activities for five minutes
- Stretching and other flexibility exercises
- Running in place for 30 seconds, followed by a 60-second rest period. Repeat two or three times.
Do not stop exercising suddenly. Allow at least 10 minutes of lower-level physical activity to avoid sudden temperature changes in your airways.
Monitor Yourself
Sustained intense aerobic activity is more likely to provoke EIB, asthma symptoms, or an asthma episode. If you experience symptoms, or are recovering from a recent asthma attack, you should temporarily modify your exercise level in terms of duration, intensity, and frequency because you are at greater risk for increased problems.
Some athletes have found they can "work through" a bronchial episode, continuing to run long distances, for example. This could be due to a release of natural bronchodilator hormones from the adrenal glands. Other athletes have found they can induce an EIB response during their warm-up period, timing it so the bronchospasm resolves itself in time for competition.
You may find your exercise tolerance varies from day to day. Do not become discouraged. Pace yourself to get maximum benefit from your exercise – including increased lung and airway stamina. Overdoing it one day can intensify your symptoms and exacerbate bronchospasms during subsequent workouts.
Monitor your asthma and work with your healthcare specialist to ensure that you adequately control your symptoms. You can still train and compete in sports, even if you have been diagnosed with asthma or EIB. |
