Sports Medicine: Asthma / Bronchospasm Plan
Exercise-Induced Asthmatics have underlying airway inflammation
- Keep good control with prescription inhaled corticosteroids or leukotriene modifiers
- Increase good anti-inflammatory foods
- Fish and fish oils
- Berries and cherries
- Ginger, curry and spices
- Reduce wheat products and processed foods
Pre-Activity Warm-Up Routine
15 minutes before start of activity:
- Take 2 puffs of inhaler, 30 seconds apart
- Run 6-8 reps of 80 yard sprints at 75% speed
- This will “fool” the body into starting an asthma attack
- Once this brief sprint activity is over, any asthma symptoms “retreat” and cannot recur for 2-3 hours
During Activity
- Have free and ready access to inhaler in case symptoms occur
- Inhaler should be carried by athlete or on the playing surface, not stored in locker or office
- Make sure athletic trainer, coach, teammates, and others know location of inhaler
- Use of inhaler more than once a month due to symptoms with activity suggests inadequate symptom control and requires visit with medical professional to discuss asthma plan
Proper Metered Dose Inhaler Technique
- Use 10-15 minutes before activity
- Hold mouthpeice 1-2 inches from lips with mouth open
- Breathe in and squeeze down on the medicine canister
- Breath in slowly for 3-5 seconds
- Hold breath up to 10 seconds
- Wait 30 seconds before taking another puff
- Spacer use can improve medication delivery
- Brushing teeth or mouthwash after inhaled steroid use reduces risk of oral candidiasis
Plaut TF, One Minute Asthma (5th edition), Pedipress Inc, 2021
