Don't let asthma put
the chill on your winter fun.
Cold air can cause
problems for people with asthma when they're skating, snowboarding,
skiing or taking part in any other outdoor winter activity.
The best way to control exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is to
prevent it, Dr. Sally Wenzel, of the National Jewish Medical
and Research Center, says in a prepared statement.
People with asthma
should use their asthma inhalers before they exercise and they
need to make sure they do a proper warm-up.
"Just break a light
sweat, then stop exercising. After about 30 minutes start exercising.
Later you'll have some added protection because the body produces
chemicals that protect against bronchospasm. You still should
take beta-agonists, which open airways," Wenzel says.
Coughing and wheezing,
rather than shortness of breath, are signs that you may have
EIA.
"If a person starts
coughing and wheezing after exercise this could be a sign he
or she is developing asthma. A person with these symptoms should
be seen by a physician," Wenzel says.
Here are some tips
on how to prevent EIA while you enjoy winter sports:
- Wear a mask or scarf to warm
cold air before breathing it in.
- Take asthma medication 15
to 30 minutes before starting your activity.
- Warm-up for 30 to 60 minutes
beforehand, then stop.
More information
Here's where you
can learn more about exercise-induced
asthma.
Reference
Source 101
For more information on how to prevent other diseases, use
PreventDisease.com's "Quick
Prevention Resources".
