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Home > Exercise and the Asthmatic Child

Exercise and the Asthmatic Child


Over 9 million children have been diagnosed with asthma... but asthma doesn't have to sideline a child!



Asthma in Children:
  • Over 9 million children under the age of 18 years of age have been diagnosed with asthma (NCHS, Summary health statistics for U.S. children: National Health Interview Study, 2003).
  • One in six emergency room visits and hospitalizations are due to an asthma attack (Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 2003).
  • In children under the age of 15, asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization (NCHS, as cited in the American Lung Association's “Asthma and Children Fact Sheet”).
  • Asthma is the most common chronic pediatric health condition.
  • Children with asthma lost 14.6 million school days in 2002 (American Lung Association, as cited in Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 2003).
  • According to the American Lung Association, “asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism attributed to chronic conditions” (NCHS, as cited in the American Lung Association's “Asthma and Children Fact Sheet”).

    Did You Know?

    It has been shown that asthma and obesity are correlated—though no causation has been proven. However, a recent study by the Johns Hopkins Children's Center found that children with moderate or severe asthma are less likely to engage in high levels of physical activity. Additionally, almost 20% of the parents surveyed in the study believed that exercise was dangerous for children and 25% stated that they were afraid their children would become ill if they exercised (Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week, 2004).

    The Importance of Physical Activity in the Lives of Asthmatics

    An asthma diagnosis does not have to completely inhibit an asthma victim's ability to participate in physical activity. Many diagnosed with asthma have overcome obstacles and fears to live an active lifestyle. In the 1984 Olympic Games, 67 of the 597 athletes on the U.S. team had a “positive history of asthma or exercise-induced asthma”. Of those athletes, 38 athletes won a total of 41 medals—15 of which were gold. At the 2000 Olympic Games, 607 athletes filed for waivers allowing the use of asthma medications.

    In recent years, researchers and medical professionals have found that exercise training as part of an asthma treatment regimen is extremely beneficial. Benefits of exercise for asthmatics include:
  • Increased fitness level
  • Decreased number of asthma attacks
  • Decreased number of wheezing days
  • Lesser need for medication
  • Reduced number of hospital visits made
  • Decreased absenteeism
  • Less feelings of anxiety and fearfulness
  • Overall better quality of life

    Increasingly, there is no need for any child to be sidelined by asthma. Asthma patients can get in the game. However, before starting any new exercise regimen, make sure that you and your child consult a doctor.

    Resources:

    American Lung Association. (2003) “Report on the Results of The Asthma Awareness Survey.”

    American Lung Association. (2004). “Asthma & Children Fact Sheet”.

    Asthma and Allergies. WebMD.

    Bar-or, O. (1996) The Child and Adolescent Athlete. Berlin, Germany: Blackwell Science. 444-445.

    Brody, J.E. “Personal Health.” The New York Times, March 9, 1990.

    Dey A.N., Bloom, B. Summary health statistics for U.S. children: National Health Interview Survey 2003. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10(223). 2005.

    Hogshead, N. and Couzens, G.S. Asthma and Exercise. Henry Holt and Company, New York: 1990.

    NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net. “Asthma; Children with asthma inactive due to parental health beliefs, disease severity.” Obesity, Fitness and Wellness Week, May 1, 2005.

    Rosimini, C. Benefits of Swim Training for Children and Adolescents with Asthma. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 15, 6, 247-252.

    Satta, A. Exercise training in asthma. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 40, 4, 277-783