Athletes and Asthma

Katie Craven is an All-American Athlete with the many trophies, certificates, plaques and medals to attest to it.  She is also a college sprinter, one of the fastest of all runners, who copes with asthma.

She and many thousands of other athletes with asthma are proof that asthma doesn’t have to keep you from having fun with sports or other activities.  Exercise is good for everyone, including people with asthma.

The Asthma Initiative of Michigan says these are the facts:

• “The more in shape you are, the better your lungs work.
• The better your lungs work, the fewer problems you should have with your asthma.
• The fewer problems you have with your asthma, the better you’ll feel and the more you’ll be able to do.
• Having an Asthma Action Plan takes all the mystery out of treating your asthma.  Make sure your coaches have a copy, and know what to do if you need help.”

Speaking of coaches, Katie says, “It’s important for them to push you because that’s how you develop champions, but it’s also important for them not to push you past your individual limit. Good coaches know that. They know the backgrounds and medical histories of each of the team members and always put their personal safety first.

"For example, sometimes at practice, I have to do 200 meter workouts. We run 200 and rest for three minutes. We repeat this 12 times. It’s hard for me to recover and be able to breathe again after only three minutes, so sometimes I take four minutes and that allows me to do the workout harder because I have a longer recovery time.

“I really love running; I have since I was little. When I’m sprinting it feels almost like flying and gives me a kind of high, a healthy high.  Running in a relay, for instance, where you have to depend not only on yourself but others also to do their best develops admiration, trust and wonderful friendships.”

Whether it’s football, soccer, tennis, basketball or another sport, the experience of others and their watchful coaches and trainers proves that you don’t have to give it up, but you do have to be prepared. If you follow your Asthma Action Plan and still have trouble breathing while working out, tell your doctor.  He or she should be able to change the plan a little to keep you breathing with ease.

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