Exercise is essential for all children, and this does not exclude children with asthma. The practice of a sport not only helps control weight and contributes to the development of muscles and bones in the child, but helps strengthen the respiratory muscles and make the lungs work better.
Thus, children with asthma not only can, but should play a sport or physical activity frequently. Regular, moderate physical activity has a positive effect on the immune system and can reduce allergic inflammation.
What sport can practice?
The child can practice the sport you want with adequate control of the disease. Keep in mind that any exercise that is very demanding, prolonged and cause further increase in frequency of breathing is faster.
The most fast breathing sports are sustained activity such as athletics, cycling, gymnastics, rowing. Also ice skating and skiing, cold and dry environment where they practice.
Breathing fast are less sequential sports such as swimming, tennis, badminton, judo, and team sports such as basketball, football, hockey.
Exercise-induced asthma
It is estimated that 80% of children and adolescents with asthma have asthma symptoms when they exercise. These symptoms disappear almost entirely if asthma is well controlled.
It is called exercise – induced asthma or asthma or exercise – induced bronchospasm (IEA) symptoms that cause acute and reversible obstruction of the airways that occurs during or after exercise.
They appear between 15 and 20 minutes after completing the exercise, and in some cases during the same. These are: difficulty breathing, dry cough continued tightness in the chest and “whistles”.
How to prevent exercise-induced
It is important to warm up before exercising and doing progressive training. Sports should be avoided during an asthma attack. It is also recommended to try to avoid outdoor sports days of very cold or windy. In some specific cases it can also be useful to take medication 15 minutes before the game.
If an asthma attack occurs during the practice of sport is physical activity must cease immediately, stay at rest and apply the medication prescribed by the doctor for those. If after 10 minutes did not improve they will again repeat the same dose and take the child to a medical center.
