How Is EIA Treated?
Doctors sometimes recommend pretreatment for EIA. This means taking medicine before
exercising or being very active. The medicine often is the same quick-relief
medicine (also called rescue or fast-acting medicine) used during flare-ups. Taking
it before exercise can help prevent the airway narrowing triggered by exercise.
If pretreatment doesn't control symptoms, the doctor may recommend using long-term
control medicine (also called controller or maintenance medicine). This asthma
medicine is usually taken regularly over time to reduce airway inflammation.
If your child still has breathing trouble during exercise, let the doctor know.
The medicine dosages may need to be adjusted for better control.
Which Activities Are OK for Kids With EIA?
Exercise is a great idea for everyone, including kids with exercise-induced asthma.
Besides keeping kids fit, exercise can improve lung function by strengthening the
breathing muscles in the chest.
Encourage your child to be active while also keeping asthma symptoms under control
by following the asthma
action plan. Ask your doctor which exercises, sports, and activities are safe
for your child.
These activities usually are OK for people with EIA:
- easy walking, jogging, or hiking
- golf
- baseball
- football
- gymnastics
- shorter track and field events
Endurance sports (long-distance running, cycling, etc.) and those requiring extended
energy output (like soccer and basketball) can be more challenging. So can cold-weather
sports, like cross-country skiing and ice hockey.
But that doesn't mean kids can't play these sports if they enjoy them. In fact,
many athletes with asthma have found that with proper training and medicine, they
can do any sport they choose.
Tips for Kids With Exercise-Induced Asthma
For the most part, kids with exercise-induced asthma can do anything their peers
can do. But be sure to follow the suggestions given by your child's doctor.
Here are some tips for kids and teens:
- If symptoms start, don't exercise until they stop.
- Warm up before exercise to prevent chest tightening. (Warm-up exercises can include
5–10 minutes of walking or any other light activity, plus stretching or flexibility
exercises.)
- Take quick-relief medicine as close to the start of exercise as possible.
- Breathe through the nose during exercise.
- Take brief rests during exercise and use quick-relief medicine, as prescribed,
if symptoms start.
- Cool down after exercise to help slow the change of air temperature in the lungs.
It's also best not to exercise outside during very cold weather. If your child
plays outside when it's cold, wearing a ski mask or a scarf over the mouth and nose
should help.
If air pollution or pollen are triggers, your child may want to exercise indoors
when air quality is poor or pollen counts are high. And kids shouldn't exercise when
they have a cold or other
upper respiratory infection.
Kids should always have access to their quick-relief medicine. Keep extras on hand
and be sure to check all supplies so your child isn't carrying an empty inhaler.
Date reviewed: March 2018