|
Living with Bronchial Asthma
People who have a disorder of the respiratory system which causes their airways to become enflamed and narrowed are said to have bronchial asthma. They may cough and wheeze constantly, even if they are not experiencing an attack, if they have a severe case. This sort of condition is debilitating as it limits the sufferer's freedom to move around and engage in normal, everyday activity.
Most people with the condition do not have it to such a severe degree, however, and are able to manage their bronchial asthma through medication, proper breathing techniques, and awareness of what triggers their episodes. By becoming aware of these triggers, they can more effectively avoid them or, at the very least, be more prepared when entering into a situation where these triggers are present.
For example, if a person finds that cat dander triggers an episode for them, they may choose to remain outside when visiting a home with cats, wear a protective mask while in the home, or simply keep their emergency medication with them. It is all dependent on the severity of their reaction to the trigger and what steps they choose to handle it.
Athletes Living with the Disease
A common trigger for attacks of bronchial asthma is exercise or other physical exertion. Consequently, many avoid any and all strenuous activity out of fear and miss out of valuable experiences. Many athletes suffer with this condition and continue to compete in sports such as football, soccer, and other strenuous activities. They still may have occasional struggles with their symptoms like anyone else.
However, what sets these athletes apart is that they work diligently to maintain control over their bronchial asthma so that they can continue to compete. They do this by taking medication that helps keep their airways open, practicing proper breathing to prevent or calm an attack, and conducting their athletic training in such a way as to slowly build up their capabilities. If they were to jump into an overly strenuous activity without this gradual preparation, they could trigger a bronchial asthma attack that could interfere with further training.
Missing out on that additional training may hinder their progress, so it is vital to any athlete to always be on top of their condition. It is inspiring to see that many of them are very successful at doing so because it gives hope to everyone else suffering with this condition. By working closely with their doctor, they too can achieve the sort of control over their condition that these athletes demonstrate.
|
|
