Look at Kat go! She's 12 and she loves soccer and track and
field events, like running and jumping. She even qualified for the
National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships. Unless you saw
her using her
inhaler
, you would never guess that she has
asthma
.
Asthma is a lung problem that can make it difficult to breathe.
Breathing, as you know, is pretty important when you're running
a race or charging down the soccer field. Your body needs the
oxygen it gets from breathing to work properly. And your body needs
even more oxygen when you're exercising.
So how does Kat do it? Let's find out:
How old were you when you first discovered you have
asthma?
I was 8 years old and in the third grade.
What happened that led you and your family to think you might
have asthma?
My mom says I had a bad cough that sounded like a bark and it
just would not go away.
Did you have a lot of tests, and what were they like?
I had a pin test where they injected (under my skin) tiny
amounts of the stuff that can cause allergies. I had that test
because allergies can cause the symptoms of asthma or make asthma
worse. They also put a "sleeve" on my finger to measure
the amount of oxygen in my blood. And I had to blow as hard and as
long as I could into a
peak flow meter
so they could figure out how well my lungs work.
How did you feel when you first heard you had asthma?
I did not exactly know what it meant so I did not care too much.
But when I learned what it was and what it meant I was scared and
thought I would not be able to play sports anymore. Luckily, I
didn't have to stop.
What's the hardest part for you about having asthma?
Having to remember to take my medicines I would say is very
hard, but also remembering what makes my asthma act up is pretty
difficult.
[Smoke and cold air are two things that make Kat's asthma
get worse.]
What does it feel like when you have an asthma flare-up? Some
people describe it as "like breathing through a straw" or
"drowning above water."
I actually have never had a real flare-up, but when I have
breathing trouble, my throat loses the moist feeling. I feel like
no air will go through or down my throat, like a boulder rolled
over my throat blocking air. Like someone once said about having
asthma, "I feel like a fish out of water."
What do you do to prevent yourself from getting an asthma
flare-up?
I follow my doctor's advice about taking my medicine.
[This includes
controller medicine
taken every day and
"rescue" medicine
she takes if she feels breathing trouble starting to happen.]
Taking my medicine has prevented me from having a big, dramatic
asthma flare-up. Whenever I feel breathing trouble about to start,
I take a puff on my inhaler. I do this even in the middle of a
soccer game, which I really don't like but know I need to do!
Before every sporting event I take two puffs, one dose, on my
inhaler. And because cold air will make my asthma worse, I wear a
ski mask over my face when I'm outside or competing. I wear the
mask because it warms the air before I breathe it.
As an athlete, what is the most challenging thing about
managing your asthma?
Knowing when to take my inhalers and remembering which one is
for sports is challenging, but it is a lot easier now. Also, coming
out of a soccer game to take my medicines is hard because I love to
play the game.
You play two sports (track and soccer) where competing and
success depend on how hard you push yourself. How do you do this
and still manage your asthma?
I do not let sports take over my life, and if I can't
breathe easily, I will take a break from the sport or go back to my
doctor and see what is wrong. Also, my coaches are supportive and
make sure I use my inhalers when I need to.
How do your teammates handle your asthma?
The people on my soccer team always ask me if I am OK.
Many kids don't have asthma. What do they need to know
about it?
That asthma is not contagious.
What tips or encouragement would you give to other kids who
have asthma and want to play sports?
Go for it, but make sure it is OK with your doctor. And if your
asthma acts up, remember it is OK to take a break during practice,
a game, or race.
Reviewed by:
Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph
Date reviewed: June 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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