Don’t limit yourself.
A number of Olympic and professional athletes have asthma. Don’t think you can’t be part of the team because you have asthma. You can do what anyone else can do.
You may need to take asthma medicine before you work out. But don’t let your asthma keep you away from sports or activities you love.
Swimming is especially good if you have asthma because you breathe in warm, humid air as you swim. Sports that have some “down time” (like baseball) might be easier to manage than those that keep you in constant motion (like soccer). But, if you love a sport or activity, chances are that, working with your health-care team, you’ll be able to figure out a way to play.
Figure out what triggers your asthma attacks.
Be a detective. Use the clues you have to figure out what causes you to have an attack. It may be cigarette smoke in the air, your own smoking, dust, pets, or something else. If you can figure out what causes an attack, you can stay away from those triggers.
Learn how you feel when an attack is coming on. And get the help you need right away.
Before you have an attack, does your chest feel tight? Do you feel tired? Do you feel like it is hard to catch your breath?
If you know what you feel like before you have an attack, you can get the help you need. Don’t tough it out and pretend that it isn’t happening. That can lead you to the Emergency Room.
Some people use a peak flow meter to help them learn when an attack may be on the way. Talk to your doctor or nurse to find out if a peak flow meter can help you. And make sure you and your doctor have a detailed written treatment plan worked out that will help you know what to do if you feel an asthma attack coming on.
Having asthma can be a drag. But it can also be something that you rarely have to worry about. How you control your asthma can make the difference.
