Winter Sports and Asthma

Unfortunately for people with asthma, winter sports have more than snow and ice in common. Winter sports involve exposure to cold air, which may exacerbate asthmatic conditions.Prevention, as with most allergy treatments, is the best way to control exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Controlling EIA with a physician prescribed treatment plan may include using an asthma inhaler before exercising.  If you are under the care of a physician for asthma, before making any changes to your treatment plan, be sure to consult your healthcare provider.In addition to using a prescribed inhaler, take time to warm up before exercise. By warming up your body with light activity, you'll add natural body-produced chemicals which protect against brochospasm. Both of these steps will lead to better cold weather experiences.If you exhibit symptoms of coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, following physical activity, these may be signs of EIA.  Symptoms may appear 5 to 20 minutes after finishing the activity. Coughing and wheezing after exercise are important signs to consider that an individual has or is developing asthma. People experiencing these symptoms should speak with a medical practitioner.Again, a checklist for easing and preventing Exercise-Induced Asthma during outdoor winter activities:

• Wear a mask or scarf to warm cold air before breathing it
• Take asthma medication 15-30 minutes before skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, etc.
• Warm up 30 minutes before starting the exercise

Communicating with your doctor is imperative to receive proper care for an asthmatic condition. If you exhibit any of the symptoms; coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, contact a healthcare professional.  Live in the NYC area? Feel free to contact me to set up a successful treatment plan to ensure that asthma doesn’t keep you from enjoying winter.