“My daughter has asthma and wants to start playing basketball. Is it a good idea?”
My daughter was diagnosed with asthma over two years ago, and it's finally being managed after going through a few inhalers and nebulizers. Now, she wants to start playing basketball. Is this a good idea for her? I don't want her condition to get worse because of her starting a sport.
8 Answers
Sport is a great idea! Cardiovascular activity can actually help asthma.
You will need to ask your Pediatrician.
It’s ok to play any game but should take inhaler for asthma before starting playing
Hello,
Yes, she can play basketball. She can carry the inhaler and use it if necessary if she feels short of breath.
Sincerely,
Hariram Ganesh
Yes, she can play basketball. She can carry the inhaler and use it if necessary if she feels short of breath.
Sincerely,
Hariram Ganesh
Pediatricians want children with asthma to play sports. If asthma is exercise induced give 2 puffs of quick relief inhaler before exercise. Make sure she stays hydrated. Have the inhaler available when she is playing and if chest tightness or shortness of breath stop playing and take inhaler.
Yes, it's a good idea if she wants to do this. She just needs to use inhalers before this activity: albuterol 15-20 min before. Or, even better, a more complex inhaler with any steroids. And after 1-2 weeks, make adjustments with inhalers.
No harm in playing basketball. If she starts wheezing during or after playing, she can take Albuteral inhaler 20 minutes prior to playing. Since I don’t have the child’s age, you can ask your pediatrician how many puffs. Usually in a teenager, it is 2 puffs 20 minutes before exercise.
There is no reason for her not to play basketball. She should be under control for her Asthma, and be possibly on an inhaled corticosteroids and may have to take a short acting beta-agonist inhaler, e.g., Albuterol (Pro-Air, Proventil, etc.) about 30 mins. before the game. If she is short of breath during the game, she should stop and seek medical advice. It all
depends on the current state of severity and control of her asthma.
depends on the current state of severity and control of her asthma.
