Children with asthma do not take enough exercise
As many as a fifth of children with asthma do not take enough exercise even though physical activity is important for them.
This is the finding of a US survey based on telephone interviews with
parents of 137 urban, school-aged children with asthma and 106 controls.
Children with asthma were less active than their peers. The mean activity
on one day was 116 minutes for children with asthma and 146 minutes for
children without the condition. Children with asthma were also more likely
to be inactive, defined as under 30 minutes’ activity per day or
fewer than three days of activity per week.
“The results are troubling,” says lead author David Lang.
He was worried about persisting beliefs that exercise is dangerous for
asthmatic
children. “In reality physical activity had important benefits
for all children, including those with asthma.” Activities such
as running and swimming had been associated with improved fitness and
decreased severity of asthma symptoms.
The research group believes that doctors should ask children with asthma
and their parents about their levels of exercise and their attitudes
to exercise to achieve the goal of normal physical activity for their
age group.
The researchers said that children perceived to have worsening asthma
on exercise may need their therapy reviewed (Pediatrics 2004;113:341).
Lynne Brown, clinical practice pharmacist, South East Sheffield Primary
Care Trust, commented that pharmacists can be proactive in educating
and advising parents and children with asthma. A goal for all children
with asthma should be participation in normal physical activities. Walking,
cycling and, in particular, swimming are commonly advised as good activities
for these children, she said. Sports requiring continuous activity such
as long-distance running and cold weather
activities are more likely to aggravate the condition but a child with
well-controlled asthma should not be excluded from any type of physical
activity.
She commented that exercise-induced asthma can be managed with appropriate
preventive medication, with some evidence suggesting long-acting beta2 agonists are of particular benefit. Pharmacists should ensure that the
rationale for using such medicines regularly due to their preventive
role is reinforced to children and parents. Pharmacists should also explain
the role of reliever medicines in managing breathlessness and wheezing
induced by exercise. |
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