Physical activity is part of a healthy lifestyle, even for children and youth with asthma. Asthma should generally not be used as an excuse to avoid participating.
Exercise/physical activity is one of the most common asthma triggers, especially when combined with extremes in weather, poor air quality, high levels of aeroallergens (trees, grasses, weeds, moulds) or having an underlying virus/cold. Some children/youth with asthma only have exercise-induced symptoms.
A child/youth can participate and perform better in almost any physical activity if their asthma is well controlled and breathing problems are recognized early.
For additional information, refer to the Exercise and Asthma video.
Symptoms
Common symptoms associated with physical activity/exercise-induced asthma:
- can start within ten minutes of starting exercise
- can worsen after exercise stops (for up to 60 minutes if a reliever was not used)
Physical activity can trigger the smooth muscle of the airway to contract and therefore narrow the airways making it difficult to breathe. However, when asthma is controlled, most individuals can participate in physical activity with no issues.
If a reoccurring pattern of asthma symptoms with physical activity is noticed, talk to the parent(s)/guardian(s) and/or child/youth (if age-appropriate) and let them know what you are observing, as a visit to a health care provider may be required.
Triggers
Indoor Sports and Recreation Activities
- Gymnasium Activities: moulds, cleaning chemicals, gym mats (these can become very dusty), scents (perfume, cologne)
- Arenas: moulds, cold air, arena chemical fumes, fumes from ice surfacing vehicle)
Outdoor Sports and Recreation Activities
- Outdoor allergies: pollen (trees, grasses, flowers, weeds) and moulds
- Air pollution
- Humidity
- Hot/cold/windy weather
Water-Based Sports and Recreation Activities
- Humidity
- Mould
- Pool chemicals
Strategies to Support Participation
- Physical activity should not be started if the child/youth is already experiencing symptoms.
- Use a gradual warm-up before activities requiring sustained exertion.
- In cold weather, warm-ups should be a little longer.
- Encourage the child/youth to wear a scarf or face mask in cold weather to help warm and humidify the air.
- Encourage the child/youth to stay hydrated, before, during, and after physical activity.
- Be aware of potential asthma triggers in the area and the potential need for management and reduction strategies.
- Check pollen levels in your community at www.theweathernetwork.ca.
- Check the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and forecasts at www.airhealth.ca.
- Consider modifying outdoor physical activity if the AQHI is between four and then for those with asthma or between seven and ten for the general population.
Medication (Use of Reliever)
A reliever inhaler may be prescribed to be taken 10 to 15 minutes before the activity is started to prevent asthma symptoms.
If asthma symptoms begin after starting physical activity, have the child/youth stop the activity and take the reliever inhaler as directed by the child’s/youth’s health care provider, which is typically two puffs. When more than one puff is recommended, give one puff at a time, with 30 seconds between puffs, making sure to re-shake the spray inhaler between puffs. When the child/youth is fully recovered, they may resume the activity.
If a child/youth used the reliever inhaler before the activity and symptoms develop during the activity, the reliever can be used again to relieve symptoms. If symptoms are not relieved or worsen, the child/youth should not return to the activity. In this case, the reliever can still be used again to reverse the symptoms. It is important to monitor the child/youth and if after two rounds of 2 puffs per round, their symptoms have not improved, call 9-1-1.
