Asthma And The Athlete

If you like to ski, climb, mountain bike, or engage in any other strenuous activity, working your body hard is not a bad idea, as long as you're an otherwise healthy, well-conditioned asthmatic. In other words, asthma is no excuse for athletic mediocrity. Just ask track-and-field star Jackie Joyner-Kersee or swimmer Amy Van Dyken or Washington Redskins fullback Don-nell Bennett—all asthmatics.

 

Before you join the local rugby team, make sure you've been performing mid- to high-level aerobic exercise, along with some weight training and stretching thrown in for good measure. Don't just roll out of bed one morning and decide that, after ten years of sitting in front of the TV, you're going to run marathons. This is not only a good way to get hurt, but you actually risk your life. If you've been exercising regularly, your asthma is under control, and you have no other medical problems that would stop you from strenuous exercise, then there's no reason why you shouldn't push yourself to the next level. Of course, it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before embarking on an exercise program, especially one in which you intend to push your body hard.