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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffAlthough you can't prevent the development of exercise-induced asthma, you can take steps to prevent flare-ups of the condition:
- Warm up for about 10 minutes before strenuous exercise.
- Do your best to avoid colds and other respiratory infections. Don't do strenuous exercise when you have a cold.
- Avoid allergens when exercising if they worsen your symptoms. Examples include air pollution, pollen or pet dander.
- Learn to breathe through your nose to warm air before it goes into your lungs.
- Keep your mouth and nose covered during exercise in cold weather.
- Don't avoid exercise because you have asthma. Staying in good shape can ease asthma symptoms in the long run.
At school
Most schools will ask you to develop a written asthma action plan in conjunction with your child's doctor. This document provides step by step instructions for schoolteachers, nurses and coaches that explain what to do to prevent your child's exercise-induced asthma, such as using a rescue inhaler before exercising. It also gives school personnel instructions on what to do if your child has an asthma flare-up. Ask your child's doctor or school nurse for an asthma action plan form.
References
- Krafczyk MA, et al. Exercise-induced bronchospasm: Diagnosis and management. American Family Physician. 2011;84:427.
- Pathogenesis, prevalence, diagnosis, and management of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: A practice parameter. Palatine, Ill.: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/Aaaai/media/MediaLibrary/PDF%20Documents/Practice%20and%20Parameters/Exercise-induced-bronchoconstriction-2011.pdf. Accessed Sept. 26, 2011.
- Rakel D. Pulmonary problems. In: Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-2/0/1494/0.html. Accessed Sept. 26, 2011.
- Asthma and exercise: Tips to remember. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/asthma-library/asthma-and-exercise.aspx. Accessed Sept. 26, 2011.
- Exercise-induced asthma. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=17&cont=168. Accessed Sept. 26, 2011.
- Parker MJ. Asthma. Otolaryngology Clinics of North America. 2011;44:667.
- Covar RA, et al. Allergic disorders. In: Hay WW, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics. 20th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6589316. Accessed September 26, 2011.
- Expert panel report 3 (EPR-3): Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Bethesda, Md.: National Institutes of Health. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/07_sec3_comp4.pdf. Accessed Sept. 26, 2011.
- Updated information on leukotriene inhibitors: Montelukast (marketed as Singulair), zafirlukast (marketed as Accolate), and zileuton (marketed as Zyflo and Zyflo CR). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/ucm165489.htm. Accessed Sept. 26, 2011.
- FDA drug safety communication: New safety requirements for long-acting inhaled asthma medications called long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm200776.htm. Accessed Sept. 26, 2011.
- Asthma action plan. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/asthma_actplan.pdf. Accessed Sept. 27, 2011.
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