Asthma Tips for Kids
Daniel Graham, tight end for the Denver Broncos, teamed up with
National Jewish Health to help children in the Denver Public Schools
better control their asthma and miss fewer days of school.
Mr. Graham offers the following tips for kids to help properly manage
their exercise-induced asthma.
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Take your medication. One of the most important
things you can do to prevent exercise-induced asthma is to take your
bronchodilator medication prior to exercising. If you're going to go out
and play sports make sure you've taken your bronchodilator medication
10-15 minutes before you start. Also, be sure to maintain your schedule
of daily asthma medications that your doctor prescribes.
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Let people know you have asthma. Teachers and
coaches should be informed if you have exercise-induced asthma. Let
them know you are able to participate in activities, but that you may
have to take your bronchodilator medication beforehand.
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Proper warm up. Stretching and a proper warm up
before exercise, playing sports or vigorous activity will usually help
you avoid asthma symptoms.
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Stick to a schedule. It's easy to get out of your
routine once the summer starts and forget to take your asthma
medications. Remember that it's very important to stick with them and
stay on schedule. With effective management you can perform and excel
in a variety of sports.
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Asthma Action Plan. Ask your doctor for a written
asthma action plan. The plan should include what medicine to use to
treat asthma symptoms and changes in peak flow zones, what medication to
use as a pretreatment before exercise, emergency telephone numbers and a
list of things that make your asthma worse
This information was provided by Daniel Graham, tight end for the
Denver Broncos and an asthma sufferer (April 2010).
