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Asthma
and Exercise Can Go Hand-in-Hand
Parents' misconceptions that exercise
can be risky for their asthmatic children may be partly to blame
for low levels of physical activity among children with the disease,
according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's
Center.
The study, in the April issue of
the journal Pediatrics, found that 20 percent of children
with asthma do not get enough exercise, even though research has
shown that running, swimming and other kinds of physical activity
decrease the severity of asthma symptoms.
Researchers conducted a telephone
survey of 137 parents of children with asthma and 106 parents
of healthy children. About 20 percent of all the parents indicated
they believed that exercise is dangerous for children with asthma.
About 25 percent of the parents
of asthmatic children said they were afraid that exercise would
make their child sick, and that their child gets upset with strenuous
activity. The children of parents who expressed such views were
more likely than other children to be inactive.
"These results are troubling,"
study lead author Dr. David Lang said in a prepared statement.
"Despite medical advances and a
better understanding of asthma, we found that beliefs still exist
that exercise is dangerous for asthmatic children and that children
with asthma should not exercise. In reality, physical activity
has important benefits for all children, including those with
asthma," Lang said.
It's essential that pediatricians
educate asthmatic children and their parents about the benefits
of exercise, he said.
More information
The American Lung Association has
more about asthma
in children.
Reference
Source 101
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