If your asthma is properly controlled you should be able to participate fully in any sport or exercise that you enjoy, including competitive team sports.
If you are wheezing, experiencing tightness of chest or coughing during or after physical activity, then it is likely that exercise is a trigger for your asthma. If your asthma symptoms get worse during or after exercise, then it may be a sign that your asthma is not well controlled. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it’s better to focus on getting your asthma under control than to avoid exercise.
What to do if you think exercise is a trigger for your asthma:
- Ensure that you are taking all your medication as prescribed by your doctor, especially your controller medication which reduces the chances of an attack occurring.
- Have an Asthma Action Plan and keep it up to date.
- Know the 5 Step Rule for dealing with an asthma attack.
- Manage your triggers and avoid exercising when pollen is high and in polluted areas.
- Always carry your reliever/MART inhaler when you exercise.
- Warm up 15-20 minutes before you exercise.
- Tell people if you are exercising alone and tell your coach/team that you have asthma.
- Stay hydrated before, during, and after exercise.
- Take your reliever inhaler 15-20 minutes before exercise.
- Symptoms during exercise? STOP: Take your reliever and wait 5 minutes before resuming if symptom free.