Eleven-year-old Christian Jackson suffers with severe asthma, so exercise hasn't always been easy. In fact, at times it's even led to serious attacks.
“When it starts to flare up, like my shoulders go up, it feels tight, like everything's kind of blacking out because it feels like I'm gonna faint or something.”
Christian relies on daily medication to control his asthma and in the past he struggled to find ways to safely stay active until he was introduced to the pool. If you want a specific recommendation as to an activity that won't trigger an asthma attack, swimming tends to be a great one but for Christian swimming isn't just a pastime, it's part of his school curriculum.
Christian goes to Morgridge Academy on the campus of National Jewish Health in Denver. It's a school specifically for children with chronic illnesses who need daily medical treatment. They see swimming as more than exercise. To these experts, it's therapy when you get them into that pool with that warm air and teach them how to regulate their breathing. They can do a lot more with physical activity than they would be able to do otherwise.
Dr. Tod Olin says the key is the humid air in the indoor pool which keeps airways open. Something for all parents to consider if they have children with asthma because exercising outdoors especially in the cold can cause problems.
The airways dry out a little bit and then that sets off a cascade of reactions that ultimately squeezes down the airway and so if we can prevent that initial airway drying step so by staying in a humid environment, we prevent the asthma attack altogether.
It's worked for Christian whose time in the pool has led to vast improvements in his lungs. It feels like it strengthens them. It really strengthens my muscles and it's also really fun at National Jewish Health in Denver.
