Kids Sports and Asthma

One of the main issues for children with asthma is physical activity. Even milder cases of asthma can limit a child’s energy and physical exertion. As NYC’s leading pediatric pulmonologist, Dr. Shukla provides management plans for kids sports and asthma. Our goal with each plan is to maximize your child’s ability to participate in sports and other physical exercise.

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Childhood Asthma and Exercise

Being physically active is one of the most important elements for a child’s development. Exercise and sports provide a range of benefits for kids, including:

Overall better health and physical endurance
Confidence in a child’s abilities
Opportunities for social interaction
Reduced risk of depression
Improved attention and memory
Reduced risks of diseases like diabetes and obesity
And more

However, asthma can often stand as a limiting factor for kids. Without diagnosis and treatment, it can lead to decreased activity. When facing difficulties with sports and exercise, kids risk missing out on a healthier lifestyle.

How Asthma Affects Kids Sports

Patients with moderate to severe asthma may experience limits to their physical activity. Asthma causes constriction of the airways, reducing the flow of oxygen to the lungs. This can lead to kids being out of breath, feeling fatigued easily, or experiencing worsened symptoms.

However, this connection can be easy to miss in younger children in particular. Being out of breath might be mistaken simply for exertion. Symptoms usually first appear during gym activities at school, but the teacher or facilitator might not notice. Older children can better express what they feel, making it easier to spot abnormalities and difficulties.

Exercise-induced Asthma

Exercise is one of the most common triggers of asthma. A child may seem to have normal respiration up until exercise or exertion. Exercise could then lead to the rapid appearance of symptoms like coughing or difficulty breathing.

Can Kids with Asthma Still Play Sports?

In most cases, a path does exist forward. Many management strategies exist that can help kids with asthma stay active (and safe). However, available options for sports and exercise will vary. Still, treatments exist that can allow some kids to play sports even with more severe cases of asthma.

Top Sports for Kids with Asthma

Some sports may cause exacerbations in some patients while proving fine for others. While the sports themselves may not worsen asthma, elements of training for them still can. For example, running laps before a game could worsen asthma.

Regardless of the type of sport a child is involved in, they will require asthma treatment if their symptoms are severe enough. However, many sports may still be viable. Namely, these sports should require minimal prolonged or rapid breathing.

Some potential sports to explore include:

Volleyball
Gymnastics (in some cases)
Skiing
Softball or baseball
Martial arts (e.g., taekwondo)
Swimming (varies)

Worst Sports for Asthma

Any sport that requires prolonged, rapid breathing has a higher risk of triggering asthma. Some exercises shown to most exacerbate asthma symptoms include:

Distance running
Soccer
Hockey (though this varies)

Treatments to Help Kids with Asthma in Sports

The type of treatment to manage asthma in kids sports will depend on severity, triggers, and patient health. Two of the gold standard options include bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory medicine.

Bronchodilators: These usually come in an inhaled format and rapidly relax airway muscles. These may be taken as needed, daily, or before exercise. Many are fast-acting and provide very quick relief.
Anti-inflammatory Medication: Airway inflammation is at the root of asthma. So anti-inflammatory medication can provide improvements over time, reducing swelling and mucus production. These take a longer-term look at managing symptoms.
Biologics: Biologic medication is reserved for severe cases of asthma. This precision therapy is tailored to each patient. It targets certain pathways in the body, reducing the inflammatory response of asthma.

Other Strategies for Kids Sports with Asthma

Avoiding triggers and managing allergies
Adhering to medication plans
Warming up lightly before exercise
Breathing through the nose during exertion
Taking breaks or resting as needed
Avoiding sports in cold weather

Work with NYC’s Top Pediatric Pulmonologist

Asthma does not need to be a barrier between your kid and an active, healthy lifestyle. Reach out to our office to set up a consultation with Dr. Shukla, a leading provider of pediatric asthma treatment.