Treatment
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Pre-treatment
There is a simple and typically very effective way of treating
exercise-induced asthma called a "pre-treatment." A pre-treatment is a
medicine that is often prescribed to be inhaled 10 to 15 minutes before
exercise which quickly open the airways to prevent asthma symptoms. By
using a prescribed pre-treatment, people with asthma are often able to
participate safely and successfully in the exercise they enjoy.
Examples of inhaled medicines often used as a pre-treatment include:
- Proventil®, Proventil HFA®, Ventolin® (albuterol)
- Maxair® (pirbuterol)
- Xopenex® (levalbuterol)
- Intal® (cromolyn sodium) or Tilade® (nedocromil sodium)
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Technique
Regardless of which inhaled medicine you use, it is important to use
good technique. Good technique helps you get the full dosage and
benefit from the medicine. Using a spacer device with your
metered-dose-inhaler can improve delivery of the medicine to your
airways. Review your inhaled medicine technique
with your healthcare provider at your next visit. If your asthma
symptoms are occurring more often with exercise or are more severe talk
with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may increase
the medicine you take every day (long-term control medicine) to get your asthma under better control.
Monitoring
In many situations physical education teachers, coaches and employers
may be confused about asthma and exercise or physical activity - some
may prohibit people from participation while others may push those with
asthma to keep up with their peers without proper monitoring or
treatment. A peak flow meter combined with monitoring asthma symptoms
can help take the confusion out of this situation. A peak flow meter
is a portable, hand-held device that measures how fast you blow air
out. When the airways are narrowed by asthma, the peak flow number will
drop. A significant drop in your peak flow number and/or asthma
symptoms is a signal that you need extra medicine or maybe a short rest
during exercise. It can provide an objective way to make decisions
about participation in sports, gym class, recess or other activities.
