Control Asthma Now! Physical Activity

Asthma and Exercise
An active healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, and especially for someone with asthma.
	For some people, physical activity is a trigger for their asthma, so it is important to learn how to decrease symptoms when exercising.
	This may include taking medications, being aware of the weather, the type of sport or activity and warming up and cooling down.
	There are many athletes such as hockey player Gary Roberts and Olympic speed skater, Susan Auch, who learned to control their asthma so they could participate in sports.
	The key to exercise is to control asthma with trigger avoidance and effective medication. If you or your child's ability to exercise is limited because of asthma, the asthma is probably not well controlled and you should see the doctor.

Asthma and Exercise -- No Excuses!
	Being active - playing, running, swimming, skating, kicking a ball or just ‘hanging out’ with friends is not only an important part of childhood, it has important medical benefits.
	Children with asthma were more likely to be active if:
	they enjoyed the physical activity their parents believed that they could do as much activity as their peers, or their parents believed exercise made their child’s asthma better¹
	Asthma is not an excuse for being physically inactive. As a matter of fact, improved fitness levels are actually associated with decreased severity of asthma symptoms. With few exceptions, children with well controlled asthma can do all the things their friends do.
	Good health and fitness habits developed in childhood are associated with physical fitness as an adult. Do all your children a favour and encourage regular, physical activity – especially your children with asthma!




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