Daniel Graham, tight end for the Denver Broncos, teamed up with National Jewish Health to help children in the Denver Public Schools better control their asthma and miss fewer days of school.
Mr. Graham offers the following tips for kids to help properly manage their exercise-induced asthma.
- Take your medication. One of the most important things you can do to prevent exercise-induced asthma is to take your bronchodilator medication prior to exercising. If you're going to go out and play sports make sure you've taken your bronchodilator medication 10-15 minutes before you start. Also, be sure to maintain your schedule of daily asthma medications that your doctor prescribes.
- Let people know you have asthma. Teachers and coaches should be informed if you have exercise-induced asthma. Let them know you are able to participate in activities, but that you may have to take your bronchodilator medication beforehand.
- Proper warm up. Stretching and a proper warm up before exercise, playing sports or vigorous activity will usually help you avoid asthma symptoms.
- Stick to a schedule. It's easy to get out of your routine once the summer starts and forget to take your asthma medications. Remember that it's very important to stick with them and stay on schedule. With effective management you can perform and excel in a variety of sports.
- Asthma Action Plan. Ask your doctor for a written asthma action plan. The plan should include what medicine to use to treat asthma symptoms and changes in peak flow zones, what medication to use as a pretreatment before exercise, emergency telephone numbers and a list of things that make your asthma worse
This information was provided by Daniel Graham, tight end for the Denver Broncos and an asthma sufferer (April 2010).
Back-to-School Advice for Asthma and Sports
Dr. Tod Olin, a pediatric pulmonary specialist at National Jewish Health, offers parents advice for the back-to-school season when respiratory viruses reappear. Children with asthma may have fewer symptoms during the summer, so it's important to make sure asthma control medications are properly adjusted for the school year. Learn more about the Pediatric Exercise Tolerance Center.
