Tuesday 20 December 2016

PREVENTING ASTHMA: SOME NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS – EXERCISE

Many children get attacks after some form of exercise. This tends to lead to a lifestyle without regular physical activity. However, such children should be encouraged to participate in regular sports starting off at a comfortable level and progressively working towards more difficult sports which require higher levels of strength and endurance.

There is no reason why such children should avoid sports or physical activity so long as they understand their limitations and take proper medication. Several Olympic athletes have had asthma and yet gone on to win world class competitions.
An excellent physical exercise for children with asthma is swimming. As emphasised earlier, children should learn to recognise their own physical limitations through experience. There may be episodes of wheezing or tightness during such activity but these should be taken as a part of the learning experience. Parents and teachers should help these children manage these episodes. This will help these children become more confident about their activities.

Exercise: Some Important Tips

• Physical exercise is a must.
• Consult the physician about:
a. What exercise is best and convenient for the child.
b. Whether a defibrillator pre-medication is required.
• The child should be motivated to take regular exercise.
• The child should know his or her limitations.
• If one kind of exercise induces asthma the child should be encouraged to try another one under the guidance of a physical instructor.
• The child should warm up with a light exercise.
• After exercise the child should cool down with a light exercise.

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