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Physical Education & Athletic Coaches: |
Physical education is an important part of all school curriculums. Children and young adults that are active are more likely to develop a healthy lifestyle throughout life. Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) affects many children with asthma. However, children with EIA should be encouraged to maintain an active lifestyle. EIA can occur shortly after starting exercise or even after finishing exercising. EIA usually develops from a change in temperature and humidity levels. It’s usually a sign that one’s asthma is poorly managed.
General Education
- Identify students with asthma and understand their Asthma Action Plan. Know what actions to take if a student has an asthma attack.
- Know how to recognize asthma symptoms, which include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breathe.
- If prescribed by a health care provider, students with EIA should take their medication as needed. They should have easy access to their medications.
- Include a warm-up and cool-down before and after exercise.
- Recommend the student wear a scarf over their nose and mouth when exercising or playing outdoors on cold days. This helps to warm and humidify the air.
- Air pollution can cause or worsen asthma symptoms. Avoid or limit exercise outdoors on Ozone Action Days. Refer to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Smog Watch website for daily smog levels or call 1-800-631-2871 or (317) 233-2318.
- Avoid or limit exercise outdoors on days pollen counts are high. Check your local newspaper or the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology website for Daily Pollen & Mold Counts.
- Activities with brief bursts of movement may cause fewer problems. Walking, baseball, softball, volleyball, tennis, or some track and field events might be ideal activities for someone with asthma.
- Activities that include constant movement may make asthma harder to control. Soccer, distance running, cycling, and basketball may aggravate someone’s asthma.
- Discuss asthma and activity concerns students may have with their parents and school nurse.