For some parents, the thought of allowing asthma-plagued children to go swimming on a regular basis might seem like an act of parental irresponsibility, an unnecessary letting loose of the leash that could result in an asthma attack or worse. But giving your asthmatic child the freedom to splash in the local pool alongside his playmates might be just what he needs to help strengthen his lungs and prevent acute asthma symptoms.
The Facts
Asthma is a common chronic health condition that affects nearly 7 million children in the United States alone, according to 2008 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Asthma occurs when tissue lining breathing passages in your child's lungs becomes inflamed and then narrow, making breathing more difficult. Common symptoms of pediatric asthma include wheezing, shortness of breath, frequent coughing and chest tightness. You can help keep your child's asthma symptoms from flaring up by using a variety of preventative interventions, which might include limiting exposure to common asthma triggers, practicing breathing techniques and creating a written asthma action plan.
Features
An asthma intervention strategy is typically an environmental or behavioral modification that helps your child manage his asthma symptoms more effectively, preferably through prevention. As a form of aerobic exercise that generally takes place in a moist, humid environment, swimming is a gentler type of physical activity less likely than most non-water-based sports to cause asthmatic symptoms, says Dr. Claudia Plottel, New York University School of Medicine clinical associate professor and author of "100 Questions and Answers About Your Child's Asthma." Swimming also requires controlled breathing techniques, which encourage asthmatic children to become more aware of how they breathe.
Studies
Allowing your child to swim might help lessen ongoing symptoms of asthma, according to a study led by Dr. Jeng-Shing Wang, professor at Taiwan's Taipei Medical University, and published in the August 2009 issue of "Respirology." The study divided a group of 30 asthmatic children between the ages of 9 and 11 into two equal-sized groups, one of which went through a swimming program three times weekly for six weeks. At the end of the period, asthmatic children who participated in the swimming activity experienced both significant reduction in the frequency of asthma symptoms and significant improvement in pulmonary function, as measured by peak expiratory flow, which increased from 244 liters per minute to 330 liters per minute. Non-swimming participants failed to experience significant changes in asthma symptoms and pulmonary function. Both groups of children remained on their recommended asthma medication throughout the study.
Considerations
Talk to your child's doctor if you're interested in using swimming as an intervention strategy to help your child manage her asthma symptoms. Factors that might affect whether your child should participate in swimming include his asthma triggers and the severity of his asthma symptoms. Some asthmatic children are sensitized to compounds found in chlorinated water, which might make them more likely to suffer bouts of coughing, cautions Dr. Thomas Rowland, Tufts University School of Medicine professor of pediatrics and coauthor of "Pediatric Exercise Medicine."
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Children - 2008 National Health Interview Survey; December 2009
- "100 Questions and Answers about Your Child's Asthma"; Dr. Claudia Plottel; 2007
- "Respirology"; The Effects of a Swimming Intervention for Children with Asthma; Jeng-Shing Wang, et al.; August 2009
- "Pediatric Exercise Medicine"; Dr. Thomas Rowland, et al.; 2004
