Asthma And Physical Activity At School

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Monday, September 15th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Approximately one in every 15 students today has asthma, which is up significantly from 20 years ago. Asthma and physical activity at school are not diametrically opposed concepts.

Asthma is a condition and disease where the bronchioles and alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs become constricted not allowing air to be released. The asthmatic student can get air in but can’t exhale adequately. The lungs become overly inflated with air that no longer has oxygen to be delivered to the body.

Although asthma can restrict physical activities it doesn’t have to negate physical activity. Asthma and physical activity at school go hand in hand with the proper planning and management. Physical fitness is an important goal for all students. Physical fitness increases the chances that the student will maintain fitness as they grow into adulthood and decrease their chance of becoming overweight adults.

A partnership between students, teachers, parents, coaches, doctors and physical education teachers to manage and control asthma will increase the student’s chance of remaining active. Part of that partnership is the asthma management plan. In that plan is recognizing the triggers or factors that make your asthma worse or cause an episode. Asthmatics should avoid and control these triggers.

Some common triggers that are factors in an asthma episode include exercise, mold, allergies, upper respiratory infections, irritants, cigarette smoke, cleaning solutions, perfumes and paints. Some of these triggers can be avoided while others may only be limited. In either case they should be included in the management plan for asthma and physical activity at school.

Another part of the management plan includes access to medications that used to treat asthma attacks. Asthma and physical activity at school require access to rescue medications during asthmatic attacks. Using a management plan will increase the chances that the student will remain active during the school year and develop good fitness characteristics that will take them through life.

Asthma and physical activity at school should be modified to match the student’s current lung status. Their status can be evaluated using a peak flow meter. The goal is to keep the students included in the activities even if they aren’t able to perform the physical activities. Students can be the time keeper, score keeper or equipment manager until their health improves.

Asthma and physical activity at school are more successful when a management plan is used. The management plan should include the students medical history, their individual symptoms, how to contact the parents and health care providers, normal peak flow numbers, triggers, medications and signed by the parent/guardian and student. The plan should have the student involved during the development because with the student’s participation they will be more liable to follow the plan.

The final piece of the management plan should be complete access to rescue medications. Students should be able to access their medications, administer them and determine when they need them. Teachers and coaches should not only know the student’s triggers but also the symptoms that require immediate action such as coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness or low peak flow readings.

When these symptoms appear from asthma and physical activity at school the student should stop the activity, use their inhaler and be taken for emergency help if they don’t improve. Asthma and physical activity at school are important pieces to improved physical fitness for students to continue their fitness growth.

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