Dear doctor;

My teenage son likes sports yet he is asthmatic. I fear he will get an attack and collapse on the pitch one day. Is it safe for an asthmatic person to participate in sports? What is the limit?

Kakuru

Dear Kakuru,

You have asked a very valid question. Asthma is known to be aggravated by physical exertion and exposure to dust (which always occurs while playing). But regular exercise is also needed for the individual to keep body healthy and improve strength of lungs. Lack of exercise can lead to obesity and many other problems like hypertension, heart problems, diabetes, later in life.

There is no problem with a teenager participating in active sports if he has asthma. In fact it will gradually strengthen his body and lungs. The lungs will be acclimatized to working more, which will be useful as he grows up. Group games teach youngsters to adjust with one another.

The only thing needed is, he has to be cautious. While playing, if possible he should keep his nose covered to prevent inhalation of dust and exposure to draughts of cold air, both which can aggravate asthma. He also should keep a bronchodilator inhaler like salbutamol or beclomethasone in the pocket while playing so that when he experiences any discomfort, cough or breathlessness he can use it.

If he experiences severe discomfort, taking rest for few moments is vital. Breathing and some other exercises of yoga are very useful for asthma cases to keep the symptoms minimal.

Swimming is also a very useful sport. He can play any game of his choice albeit with some caution.

Dr Rachna Pande  is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital