By India Gay, Sports Editor
For some, the idea of exercise or playing sport is daunting and for some it is a scapegoat for a new years resolution, that will be slowly forgotten over the first months of the year.
Although many people dread exercise and sport, for much of the population it is a time to relax and enjoy ones self. However, what if you were restricted in your favourite activity – not being able to run as fast as you would like, to play a full game or to even complete simple exercises at the gym? This can be the reality for people with asthma, sports-induced or not.
Asthma UK claim that 5.4 million people suffer from asthma, constituting around 8% of the UK. While it is not particularly common, it can be life threatening and debilitating for those that have to endure it. As with anything, the activities in life that better our health can sometimes be the hardest to engage within and asthma is no exception.
People with asthma may notice specific health benefits when they exercise, such as improving lung function, weight loss, an improved immune system and reduced levels of stress; all these contribute to reducing the likelihood of asthma attacks.
It is evident that sport can be played, to a considerably high level, even with a condition that affects something like breathing
It can be particularly hard for people who struggle with asthma, to get stuck into a sport or exercise, particularly at university when being a fresher can be frightening enough, without the added worry of wheezing and spluttering during sports team trials.
Footballer, Laura Barrett, stated that ‘taking a puff of my inhaler before the game and at half time mostly regulates it for me and knowing the inhaler is in my reach, if I need it, controls my concerns of not being able to breathe whilst playing’. As with many 1st team players, who compete in the highest university leagues, Laura has found that she has had to consciously think about managing her condition during training three times a week and at matches.
Whilst she states that it does not drastically affect her performance, she is weary of the sports-induced problem and therefore is more cautious. It is therefore evident that sport can be played, to a considerably high level, even with a condition that affects something like breathing so much.
Furthermore she allays fears that it can affect your overall performance and ability, stating that she found it was ‘pretty common among people engaged in sports as my team mates are often asking for a puff when they’ve forgotten theirs’. It appears, there is no such stigma or negative connotations surrounding ability attached to asthma and other similar conditions.
Many professional sports men and women, such as David Beckham and Paula Radcliffe, suffer some asthma yet have played to extreme levels. They act as a beacon of hope for people who are worried about the affects of their asthma or how it may restrict them when participating in a competitive fashion. The University also offers pre-booked gym classes, such as yoga, which have been proven to be beneficial in helping to control asthma.
Although a barrier to exercise, people who suffer with this should attempt to continue in their sporting desires with careful regulation, particularly at university where mental and physical relaxation and relief is key.
Featured Image: Asthma UK
Has asthma ever affected your participation? Let us know down below
