Cold Weather Puts Children at Risk of Exercise Induced Asthma

The cold weather may be enough to keep you locked indoors until springtime—but chances are, your little ones have a very different idea. From sledding and ice skating, to a host of winter sports, many kids are willing to brave the chill to participate in their favorite cold weather activities.

But in addition to worrying about falls on slippery surfaces and frostbite, many parents battle concerns about a common respiratory problem that is exacerbated in cold weather: exercise induced asthma (EIA).

EIA occurs when cool dry air causes the airways in the lungs to narrow, making it difficult to breathe. Generally, people breathe slowly through their nose, which helps to warm and humidify the air before it hits the lungs.

“However, when you’re exercising, you’re breathing through the mouth and nose, so less air is getting humidified by the nose and you may get a lot of dry air,” says Dr. Lauren Camarda, a pediatric pulmonologist from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago who sees patients at Swedish Covenant Hospital.

While many children who have asthma find that their condition gets worse during exercise, even kids who do not otherwise have asthma may experience breathing problems during exercise.

It can be difficult to discern whether or not your child is suffering from a serious respiratory problem, especially if they do not complain. How can you tell what’s normal and what is not?

“Every individual is different,” says Dr. Camarda. “But the biggest complaint is shortness of breath.” Symptoms may begin five to 10 minutes after kids start strenuous activity, but they often peak a few minutes after the activity has stopped. Other common signs of EIA include:

·         Wheezing

·         Shortness of breath

·         Tightness or pain in the chest

·         Coughing with activity, or after activity has stopped

·         Inability to run more than a few minutes without taking a break

·         Difficulty catching one’s breath after exercise

Dr. Camarda sees patients at Swedish Covenant Hospital as part of the hospital’s ongoing affiliation with the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Together, physicians at both institutions work to provide excellent, comprehensive care for pediatric patients on Chicago’s north and northwest sides.

Parents who are concerned that their child is experiencing EIA should contact their pediatrician or family physician to identify the problem and find the appropriate treatment. Treatments may include medications, inhalers or lifestyle changes to help control symptoms.

Dr. Camarda says exercise induced asthma should not stop kids from enjoying the activities they love; she points to the upcoming Winter Olympics as proof that the condition can be managed.

“Asthma should not limit kids from doing activities. There are Olympic gold medal winners with asthma,” she says. “It takes finding a treatment that works for you, and which will allow you to prevent symptoms, rather than treat them.”

To learn more about the pediatric affiliation between Swedish Covenant Hospital and Lurie Children’s Hospital, visit SwedishCovenant.org/pediatrics.

By: Nicole Joseph, Swedish Covenant Hospital