Asthma Management Plan: What Should Asthmatic High School Athletes Know?

About five million kids under the age of 18 have been diagnosed with asthma in the United States, making asthma the most common childhood chronic condition. Managing asthma in high school athletes is essential for optimal performance and preventing serious asthma attacks.

Understanding Asthma Symptoms 

If you are a parent of a high school teen or a student yourself and have asthma, you know being an asthmatic can mean a lot of things. It can mean learning about various medications and what they do. It can also mean learning how to recognize symptoms early before they get worse. But one thing it does not mean is giving up sports.

Asthma is a chronic condition, which you may have to live with the rest of your life. In some instances, children grow out of exercise-induced asthma as they get older, while for others, asthma symptoms need to be managed throughout their lifetime. Luckily, there is a lot you can do to prevent asthma symptoms from flaring. 

If you plan on playing sports or are a parent of a high school athlete, your first step is to become educated about asthma and asthma management guidelines. Hospitals often provide asthma education classes to parents and their children. These classes teach how to identify your asthma triggers and recognize early asthma symptoms, such as wheezing and chest tightness. Information on which medication to take is also provided.

Will Playing Sports Make Asthma Worse?

Everyone’s asthma is different. What causes symptoms to flare-up in one person may not bother someone else. For example exercise-induced asthma means symptoms are brought on by physical exertion. Breathing in cold air may make other people wheeze. Seasonal allergies can also trigger asthma symptoms in some people.

Depending on what triggers your asthma, playing sports, especially outside, may lead to symptoms. For example, high school athletes playing sports such as football or hockey in cold weather can be at a higher risk of developing symptoms. But that does not mean students should not participate in sports. As long as your doctor gives the OK, you can still be involved.

According to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of American, in the United States, nine people die of an asthma attack each day. That figure does not include others who are hospitalized with severe asthma attacks each day. But many of those deaths and hospitalizations can be prevented with early recognition of symptoms and quick treatment. 

READ Are Parents Aware of Their Child's Asthma Symptoms?

Although it can vary, participating in sports usually does not cause an increase in asthma symptoms. Although students may get the green light for playing, it is essential they take an active role in their health and managing their asthma. Pretending the condition does not exist or ignoring symptoms may only lead to problems.

Asthma Management For High School Sports: A Partnership Between Parents and Coaches

When young people with asthma want to participate in high school athletics, a partnership must develop between the student, coaches and parents. All three must work together to make sure the student can manage symptoms.  

Symptom Management For Athletes

After an asthma diagnosis, high school athletes should start by talking to their doctor about what sport they plan on playing. They should also talk about treatment options. Understanding the different types of medications and treating symptoms early may help manage asthma attacks before they become severe.

There are different types of medication used to treat asthma. Some medications are needed when symptoms occur. Other drugs are prescribed to prevent symptoms from developing. It is essential to understand the difference and know when to take what. For instance, ask your doctor about using a fast-acting bronchodilator, such as Albuterol, about 15 minutes before participating in sports. The medication, which comes in the form of an inhaler, works by relaxing the muscles in the airways, which opens them up. If you have exercised induced asthma, using an inhaler before you start running around may help.

Also, let your coach know you may bring your inhaler to practices, workouts and games. If you develop symptoms, such as trouble breathing or wheezing while playing, take a break and use your inhaler as prescribed. Wait until symptoms have stopped before going back in.

Asthma Precautions To Consider

Although asthma does not have to prevent a high school student from playing sports, they must take certain precautions. Consider keeping a log to determine what causes your asthma symptoms to develop. Do you start wheezing after exercise, do symptoms occur seasonally, or do certain fumes cause your chest to become tight?  Once you identify what triggers your symptoms, you may be able to avoid it.

If asthma attacks are triggered by cold weather or allergens, such as pollen, pay special attention to these conditions. Be aware of days when pollen counts are very high and be sure to follow all your doctor's recommendations.

It is also important to know when to take it easy. If you have a cold or other type of respiratory infection, asthma symptoms may develop more quickly. Consider sitting the game out if needed. Keep in mind, asthma symptoms can exacerbate, and a condition known as status asthmaticus can develop. This condition may develop when symptoms become severe and do not respond to standard treatment, such as bronchodilators. Status asthmaticus can lead to respiratory failure and death.

READ What Is Asthma?

Lastly, if you are a parent, talk to your kids about their condition. Let them be actively involved in managing their condition. High school athletes are often very competitive. That fact combined with youthful feelings of invincibility may make it challenging to get a high school athlete to realize the seriousness of asthma when playing sports. In most cases, with proper education, having asthma should not prevent high school athletes from getting in the game.