Asthma in Student Athletes Grand View Hospital Hosting Program for Parents
(March 1, 2011) Sellersville, PA – If your child is huffing and puffing during a game or shortly after exercise, it may be more than the signs of a good workout.
Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) affects millions of Americans, and is common among people with asthma and allergies. However, it also affects many who do not otherwise suffer from asthma or allergies. In fact, up to 20 percent of elite athletes suffer from EIA – including Olympians. “The affliction doesn’t keep them from competing, nor must it stop your youth from enjoying their sport of choice,” says Stephen Raphael, MD, allergist and immunologist at Allergic and Asthmatic Diseases.
To help parents understand EIA, as well as concussions, dehydration, heat illness, and orthopaedic injuries, Grand View Hospital is hosting a free program at BucksMont Indoor Sports Center in Hatfield on Wednesday, March 9, from 6-8 pm.
Common symptoms of EIA include coughing, tightness of the chest, wheezing, and difficulty breathing during or shortly after prolonged periods of more-than-mild exercise. Sports with long periods of running such as soccer, basketball, and long-distance track and cross country are most commonly associated with EIA.
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Dr. Raphael |
Treatment is directed at the underlying problem of the allergy, if present, and includes the use of an inhaled medication before and during exercise. Some athletes also require medication after exercise if symptoms of EIA occur.
“Most cases of EIA can be successfully treated, allowing affected people of all ages to enjoy the full benefits of exercise, whether it’s organized sports or a day-to-day workout,” says Dr. Raphael. “Proper management of asthma makes a difference in level of play for some kids and whether they make high school varsity or elite travel team.”
An allergist/immunologist is the best qualified medical professional to manage the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of allergies and asthma. Learn more about EIA, concussions, and other common sports-related injuries and illnesses by attending Grand View’s youth sports medicine program. To find a physician, call the Grand View Information Line at 215-453-4300 or visit www.gvh.org.
About Grand View Hospital
Grand View Hospital, Bucks County’s first hospital, has provided residents of Bucks and Montgomery Counties with comprehensive health care services since 1913. Grand View offers a range of care – particularly emphasizing the areas of cancer treatment, women's and children's health, surgery, orthopaedics, and heart and vascular care. For more information about Grand View and its services, visit www.gvh.org.
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