Can Kids and Teens With Asthma Play Sports?

You might remember a time when kids who had asthma were discouraged from playing sports and told to take it easy. That's no longer the case. Being active, working out, and playing sports does more than help a child with asthma stay fit, maintain a flare-ups, as are sports that require short bursts of activity like baseball, football, gymnastics, and shorter track and field events.

Endurance sports, like long-distance running and cycling, and sports like soccer and basketball, which require extended energy output, may be more challenging. This is especially true for cold-weather sports like cross-country skiing or ice hockey. But that doesn't mean your child can't participate in these sports if he or she truly enjoys them. In fact, many athletes with asthma have found that, with proper training and medication, they can participate in any sport they choose.

To keep asthma under control, it's important that your child take his or her medicine as prescribed. Skipping rescue medication at all times, even during workouts, in case of a flare-up.

It's also a good idea to keep asthma action plan you create together with your child's doctor.

You should also make sure that your child's coach knows about your child's asthma and his or her asthma action plan. For a young child, you might want to provide the coach with a copy. An older child should keep a copy with him or her, as well as any medication that could be needed to treat a flare-up.

Most importantly, your child and your child's coach need to understand when it's time for your child to take a break from a practice or game so that flare-ups can be managed before they become emergencies.

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