Just because you have asthma doesn’t mean you can’t be active — many professional athletes have it. But before you hit the gym or a field, it’s important to understand your body, your disease and how to manage it. Your asthma plan, developed with your healthcare provider, is a great start to getting your asthma under control.
Valentine’s Day is upon us and with it the hordes of chocolates, cards and flowers. But we want to challenge you to celebrate a little differently.
Our ability to breathe is often taken for granted until it’s compromised. When wintertime illnesses take the air out of your lungs, it helps to know what you have so you can treat it accordingly. While your healthcare provider is the best source of information for your specific disease, here is a cheat sheet from The Lung Association to help you sort through the symptoms and get back to breathing.
Winter asthma tips
Cold winter air can irritate anyone’s lungs. But, if you have a lung condition such as asthma, the winter air may affect you even more. Cold air can cause the airways in your lungs to tighten up, making it more difficult to breathe.
Keeping your asthma under control can help to reduce your risks and help you stay active this winter. Exercise has many benefits for your lungs, your general health and for your mood.
Stay active this winter
Help your kids avoid the September spike in asthma symptoms
As summer winds down, many parents start gearing up for the school year. That usually means buying school supplies and longer pants. But for parents of children with asthma, getting ready for school should also include taking steps to protect their kids from the “September Spike” – the sharp rise in kids’ asthma symptoms that happens soon after school begins.
What is to blame for the September Spike in asthma symptoms?
Dr. Darryl Adamko is one of two Saskatchewan-based pediatric respirologists (children’s lung doctors) – with a special connection to The Lung Association. As a medical student, Dr. Adamko helped look after the children’s medical needs at our summer asthma camp.
As a medical student, you attended The Lung Association asthma camp. Tell us what camp was like for you.
With summertime being full of activity, The Lung Association wants to ensure that the one in five children with asthma keep it under control so they can stay active. If asthma is putting your child on the sideline that is a signal their asthma is not under control.
Check your child’s asthma control with these simple questions. Does the child:
It’s that time of year that everyone anticipates: weekend getaways to the cottage, playing outdoors all day long and fun family trips. But, if your child suffers from asthma, keeping it under control during the summer months is necessary to ensure he or she has an active and safe school break. Plan ahead and take precautions to reduce their risks. Because asthma doesn’t take a holiday, managing it while away is just as important as it is when at home.
Here are some tips from The Lung Association to help your child take control of their breathing.
Spending time outdoors during the hot summer months is a given, but for those who suffer from asthma and other lung diseases, air pollution can make it harder to breathe.
Air pollution, a mix of particles and gases like ozone, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, can negatively affect your health and breathing. Some of the effects are minor, while others can be more severe.
Short term health effects include an increase in:
As a child, you attended The Lung Association asthma camp. Tell us what camp was like for you and your experience with asthma.
