Sometimes exercise triggers asthma symptoms. This is called exercise-induced asthma (EIA).
The symptoms of EIA are coughing, wheezing, a feeling of chest tightness, or shortness of breath. Most times, these symptoms start soon after stopping exercising. Some people may have symptoms after they start exercising.
Having asthma symptoms during exercise does not mean a student cannot or should not exercise.
Being able to take part in recess and physical education is important for all children. And children with asthma should not have to sit on the side lines. These tips may keep your child from getting EIA at school.
Read the student's school action plan. Make sure staff knows where it is kept. Use the medicines indicated for exercise induced asthma.
Talk with the parent or guardian. Know what to do if a child has an asthma episode.
Teachers, coaches, and gym teachers should know what the symptoms of asthma. Find out what type of activities a student can do, and for how long. Check the school action plan that tells staff how to take care of the child's asthma.
Adapt a running program so a student can still take part in it. The student could:
Some types of exercise may trigger asthma symptoms less:
Dressing for a physical education class and participating at any level is better than being left out or left behind.
School staff should know other asthma triggers. Some of them are:
A student with asthma should warm up before exercising and cool down afterward.
Take your short-acting inhaled beta-agonists (normally called relief and rescue drugs)
Long-acting inhaled beta-agonists may help also.
Inhaled cromolyn can also be used prior to exercise, but it is generally not as effective as the other medications for this purpose.
National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. Rockville, MD. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2007. NIH publications 08-4051.
Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
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