My child has asthma. Is exercise safe?

Having asthma doesn't mean your child has to sit on the sidelines. Exercise is important for all children, even those with asthma. In the past, children with asthma were told to avoid sports and physical activities, but not anymore.

As long as your child's asthma is well-controlled, he or she should be able to participate fully in most sports. In fact, lots of world-class athletes have asthma. Your child's doctor can help you create an exercise program that is safe and fun.

The key to safe exercise is to work with your child's doctor to make sure his or her asthma symptoms are controlled . Talk to the doctor if asthma symptoms interfere with your child's ability to take part in gym class or play sports.

What if exercising makes his breathing worse?

For some people with asthma, exercise can set off breathing problems. For these people, exercising is a trigger for asthma. In asthma triggered by exercise, (exercise-induced asthma) the person's airways temporarily narrow while they're exercising. They might wheeze, feel shortness of breath or chest tightness.

Talk to your child's doctor about making some simple changes to make breathing easier during exercise:

• In cold weather, make sure your child's nose and mouth are covered (with a scarf, neck warmer, etc.) when he's exercising outdoors.
• Avoid exercising in the morning or middle of the day in the spring and summer when pollen and other triggers are at their worst.
• If air pollution, allergies, cold or damp outside air triggers breathing problems, switch to indoor activities.
• Be sure your child does a proper warm up and cool down before and after exercising. Five to ten minutes of stretching or light activity can help relax the airways.
• Exercise regularly. By keeping the heart and lungs strong, asthma symptoms during exercise can be reduced.
• Avoid strenuous or "hard" exercise while sick. The cold virus is a common asthma trigger for many children.
• Make sure your child takes his asthma medications as directed by his doctor to maintain good asthma control. If your child has symptoms with exercise, talk to his doctor about taking medicine before exercise.
• Teach your child's teachers and caregivers about asthma. Give caregivers and teachers a written asthma action plan that outlines your child's warning signs, what medications to use and when, his or her triggers, what to do in an emergency. Make sure they understand what to do.
• Teach your child about asthma, and help him or her pay attention to his "early warning signals"- early symptoms he might experience when his asthma is about to act up. For some children, this might start with a cough, or "getting out of breath". Let your child know he's allowed to take a break or take medication when he's feeling uncomfortable. Teach him or her to pace himself and learn to participate at a level that feels comfortable.
• Make sure your child or his teachers/caregivers have his medications on hand all the time and especially during exercise

Exercise builds more than muscles...

Exercise not only helps to keep your child's muscles, heart and lungs fit, but it also helps to:

• build confidence and self-esteem
• reduce stress
• raise energy levels
• keep a healthy weight
• provide positive ways to spend free time
• build healthy exercise habits for life.

The benefits of exercise last a lifetime. If children have positive experiences with exercise early on in life, the chances are better that they will be physically active adults. When you know your child's asthma is under control, get going!

Additional resources

• Adult information: asthma and exercise - Calgary Health Region
• Asthma symptoms during exercise - Children’s Asthma Education Centre