No reason why asthma should get in the way

FOR those of us who enjoy exercise, sustaining an injury leads to a frustrating time out of our normally active life.

The clocks changing last weekend and the recent cold weather in Scotland are reminders that winter is coming and the likelihood of sporting postponements inevitable.

One of the consequences of cold days at this time of the year is the increased incidence of symptoms in those with asthma.

It seems not too long ago children with asthma were told to sit at the side of the sports field in the mistaken belief that exercise was bad for them.

Thankfully nowadays we know that nothing is further from the truth.

It is with the recent publicity surrounding some of our top sports stars, such as Olympic marathon runner Paula Radcliffe that children with asthma are encouraged to reach for the top in sport.

Seven per cent of the population – eight million people in the UK – have been diagnosed with asthma with one in eight children receiving treatment – over 110,000 children in Scotland alone.

Sadly on average 1400 people die from asthma in the UK each year, that’s almost four people per day.

Common symptoms of asthma are coughing (especially in young children), wheezing, shortness of breath and a tight feeling in the chest.

These symptoms result from inflammation of the airways, which then become narrowed. This can be triggered by a number of factors such as exercise, pollen, dust, pets and tobacco smoke.

Asthma symptoms are usually worse when you have a cold or respiratory infection.

Some asthmatics are extra sensitive to changes in temperature.

Normally when we breathe through our nose the nasal passages heat and moisturise the air but this is by-passed by mouth breathing during exercise. This is one reason why swimming is an asthma friendly sport.

It is also believed that the toning of the upper body helps breathing.

So if asthma can be triggered by exercise, why do we encourage those with asthma to take part in sport?

Exercise improves a child’s self-esteem and confidence as well as the well-known physical benefits. If you take your treatment regularly, there is no reason why all children with asthma shouldn’t play any sport they chose.

I have spent many cold, wet Saturdays watching my daughter Victoria, who has asthma, play hockey with no ill-effect.

So what can you do to minimise asthma symptoms and make exercise easier? There are two easy to follow suggestions. Firstly, it will help if you warm-up before exercise with some gentle stretching and slow running. If possible this should last for 10-15 minutes and if cold ideally should be inside.

Secondly, take your medical professional’s advice and use your medication. Most asthmatics will have a short-acting blue inhaler to relieve symptoms. This is normally taken about 15 minutes before exercise and repeated if you get short of breath.

Paula Radcliffe once said about her asthma: “I don’t really think asthma has affected my career – if anything it’s made me more determined to be successful and reach my maximum potential.”

Let’s try to encourage all those who have asthma to follow Paula’s lead.