I’ve got asthma so I can’t exercise
There is no reason that yp/children with asthma cannot exercise. There are lots of benefits to support encouraging children/yp with asthma to exercise and this can be found in the “share the benefits” section.
A diagnosis of asthma itself was found to be a barrier to exercise among parents and children. Children who had asthma felt that exercise might make their asthma worse and they therefore limited their activity levels.
Tips you may wish to share
- Make sure you warm up before you exercise as this can minimise asthma symptoms during the activity
- Make sure you have your inhalers and spacers with you during exercise
- If you have been diagnosed with exercise induced asthma, use your bronchodilator inhaler before exercise
- Exercise indoors if it is cold outside.
- If exercising outside in the cold try and wear a snood or scarf over your mouth to warm the air you are breathing in.
- Try to breathe through your nose when exercising, particularly in cold weather as this also warms the air you breath in.
- Choose an activity that you enjoy doing as you are likely to continue doing it
- Try and exercise in a group or team activity
- If you suffer with seasonal allergies (hayfever) make sure this is treated if exercising outdoors in the spring and summer.
Advise parents look at the Asthma UK website if there are not already familiar with it: https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/living-with-asthma/exercise-and-activities/
References
Leinaar E, Alamian A, Wang L. A systematic review of the relationship between asthma, overweight, and the effects of physical activity in youth. Annals of epidemiology. 2016;26(7):504-10.e6.
Cheng BL, Huang Y, Shu C, Lou XL, Fu Z, Zhao J. A cross-sectional survey of participation of asthmatic children in physical activity. World journal of pediatrics : WJP. 2010;6(3):238-43.
Glazebrook C, McPherson AC, Macdonald IA, Swift JA, Ramsay C, Newbould R, et al. Asthma as a barrier to children’s physical activity: implications for body mass index and mental health. Pediatrics. 2006;118(6):2443-9.