Sport and asthma

Sport and asthma
“It can run without problem during 3 to 5 minutes, then it stops of only one blow, starts to cough and feels oppressed, with the impression more to be able to breathe and the lungs which whistle.” This mother describes us there, the asthma of her child started by a physical exercise.

This asthma, occurring after an physical effort, is very frequent at the asthmatic one and especially in the child. But it can also be the first sign of asthma for somebody who forever have true crises.

“Can My asthmatic child make sport?” This question is put by all the parents of asthmatic children.

Thanks to simple rules and sometimes subject to the preventive catch of certain drugs, the asthmatic one can practice the sport which he likes.  Many children take part only little in the physical-activities at the school because they are asthmatic and believe that the sport their is disadvised. This is not true because the asthma induced by the exercise can be prevented and treated.

Certain asthmatic sportsmen could thanks to the treatments and with a specific drive to continue their sporting career and to even gain many medals in competitions as prestigious as the Olympic Games. You point out Mark Spitz and its 7 gold medals! And yet, it was asthmatic!

For more information, you can contact the French federation of Athletics. A network of coach athlé health can help you to take again an physical-activity. http://www.athle.com

How to become a asthmatic sportsman?
To choose a sport which one likes.
To warm up before the exercise.
To take account of the climatic conditions.
To measure its breath before and after the effort (flowmeter of point)
To inhale a protective drug 10 to 15 minutes before the effort
To have always in its pocket a bronchodilatator to inhale in the event of respiratory embarrassment and not to wait to use it if necessary.
To know to adapt its performances according to its respiratory state.

How to diagnose asthma post-exercise?
In normal weather, the breathlessness due to the effort decreases quickly as of the stop of the physical exercise. At asthmatic suffering “of asthma of effort”, whistling breathing, characteristic of asthma, occurs approximately 1 minute after the stop of the physical exercise, and can develop quickly to lead to a true asthma attack.

The diagnosis can be confirmed by the respiratory tests. They consist in measuring the front breath, then after an effort: either at the time of a free motion outside, or at the time of a test on an ergometric bicycle. These measurements can also make it possible to evaluate the effects of a treatment.

Sometimes, after a first moderated effort, it will be possible for you to make a more important exercise.

It is known however that several factors intervene in the release of the crisis.

Causes of the asthma induced by the exercise:
The mechanisms causes some in the release of the asthma induced by the exercise are known and complex. Many factors intervene such as the temperature of the ambient air and the percentage of moisture. Indeed, more the air is cold and dry, more the crises occur easily. Other factors intervene and can facilitate the appearance of the crises: atmospheric pollution, infections viral, concentration of the substances allergisantes in the air. To half of the patients, the asthma induced by the exercise is followed from one period known as “refractory” during which an equivalent physical exercise will be better tolerated. It lasts from 2 to 4 a.m. The period of heating advised before any sport can cause this refractory period.

How to choose the good sport?
The choice of the practice of a sport at asthmatic must be done according to its tastes. Only the French federation of deep-sea prohibited absolutely and final diving the practice of the diving with bottles for the asthmatic one. Indeed, it is impossible technically to inhale a drug at the bottom of water, and moreover, the compressed air in the bottle contains a strong concentration of substances allergisantes or not which can start the crisis. All the other sports can be practiced as the many Olympic champions and national and international athletes testify some who have asthma.

The preparation with the physical exercise must be all the more progressive as the selected sport is “asthmogene”. This is the case for the cross-country skiers for example, or the race on foot.

The practice of horsemanship, in particular in the child must be disadvised because there exists a big risk of sensitizing to the horse or other allergens contained in the straw. It is preferable to direct the child towards another sport.

The type of physical exercise can support the early appearance of a crisis: the race on foot causes more crises than the bicycle. Swimming, which is practiced in a hot and wet atmosphere, gives less reactions of the bronchi except if those are sensitive to the chlorine emanations.

To prevent and treat asthma post-exercise
30 years ago, the asthmatic ones believed that the sport was formally prohibited to them.

Today, thanks to the treatments, they can practice almost all the sports, sometimes even in competition. But it is necessary to know to manage its effort to avoid a crisis, or to practice a sport minus “asthmogene”, if that proves to be necessary. It is recommended to carry out a good muscular heating before the beginning of the exercise: never not to start cold and violently! A progressive drive is always necessary.

Treatments of asthma post-exercise:
Bronchodilatateurs: it is preferable to use beta-mimetic inhaled short duration of action which prevents occurred of asthma post-exercise, if they are taken 10 to 15 minutes before the effort. Moreover, in the event of embarrassment, one or two puffs relieves immediately.

Cromones: These drugs are active to prevent asthma post-exercise. They should be inhaled 10 to 15 minutes before the effort. On the other hand, they do not calm you if you are already constrained.

Other drugs of asthma: Beta-mimetic inhaled long life of action, inhaled corticoids and the theophyllines, regularly taken in basic treatment, can attenuate asthma post-exercise. On the other hand, they do not have an immediate preventive role.

It is sometimes possible to associate several drugs of different classes, but the opinion of your doctor is essential.

You will be able to practice suitably your favorite sport only if your asthma is balanced! A complete measurement of your breathing in a specialist in the lungs, is necessary in the event of respiratory embarrassment induced by the physical exercise.

Certain drugs are contra-indicated in competition for reasons of doping. Your doctor can advise you.

Conclusion
The asthma induced by the physical effort is very frequent especially in the child and brings, often wrongly, the asthmatic ones to give up the sport.

When he is known, this type of asthma can be prevented by a suitable heating and treatments which will be prescribed by your Doctor. If you feel an embarrassment at the time of the practice of a sport, it is necessary to speak about it with your Doctor who will advise you on the choice of the exercises and preventive medications. Thus asthma is only very seldom an obstacle with the practice of the sport.