Summer is conducive to outdoor activities and a change of living environment. Parameters to take into account, especially for people with asthma or allergies, to choose the right physical activities without spoiling their holidays.
- If you are asthmatic consult your doctor before starting a new physical activity.
- Asthma should not prevent you from practicing a sport, you must take your emergency treatment with you and, if necessary, a bronchodilator.
- Scuba diving with a bottle is contraindicated for asthmatics, hiking in the high mountains is not recommended.
Need a change of scenery? Asthmatics too. If summer lends itself to a change of pace and the desire to break the routine, it is also the ideal season to indulge in new physical activities. “There are almost no restrictionsexplains allergist Sophie Silcret-Grieu, during a webinar for the association Asthma and allergies. Simply, it is true that endurance sports are a little less tolerated than interrupted sports in general. So if you want to do a marathon, you can prepare it and ask yourself if your respiratory condition allows it. But sport is more beneficial than causing trouble.”
A message echoed by Dorian Cherioux, patient representative on the association’s Board of Directors. “It is important not to forbid things because of your asthma or allergyhe assures. I find it essential to rather adapt by preparing your pharmacy kit and your prescriptions, but once you’re used to this routine, it runs on its own. But asthmatics and allergy sufferers cannot live forever under glass, so we take advantage of the holidays while remaining vigilant.” However, Sophie Silcret-Grieu recommends discussing with your doctor before starting a new activity. “Some food allergies are revealed or worsen if physical effort is required, this is particularly the case with certain forms of wheat or shellfish allergies.she assures. In principle, you are told this during the diagnosis, but this may be an opportunity to remind you.
Some Restrictions
However, asthmatics should remember that stress or exertion can cause attacks. “On vacation, you may want to achieve feats, to surpass yourself through unusual sports. It’s very good, you have to do it, but it can also be an opportunity to discover that you don’t necessarily tolerate everything. warn the doctor. So to overcome this brake, Dr. Silcret-Grieu recalls the basics. “Think about your basic treatmentshe warns. If necessary, use your bronchodilator 5 minutes before exercise, it will be effective for 5 to 6 hours. Warm up, hydrate and listen to yourself! You should always have your rescue medication with you.”
Despite these precautions, some sports are prohibited such as scuba diving with a bottle where asthma is a contraindication. The reason ? The extremely dry air contained in said bottle which can trigger asthma. However, several meters under water, the asthmatic puts himself in danger if he needs to rise quickly to the surface without respecting the decompression stops. “This can lead to panics and diving accidentsexplains the allergist. Now very, very mild asthmatics who can be controlled can dive if cleared by a licensed scuba diving doctor, but this is an exception.” Same observation for hikes in the high mountains, where the air cools and dries out at altitude. “This does not mean that you cannot go hiking, but that you have to take your aerosol and your bronchodilator as a preventive measure” she reassures.
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