Around 25 million people in America have asthma; that’s around a twelfth of the population. This debilitating condition can vary in severity, and often first appears during childhood. It produces a constriction of the airways that can result in the associated wheezing of asthma, but it can also prevent children and adults from enjoying the full and active life they’d like to have. Thanks to modern day medicines and treatments, it doesn’t have to be like that, and we don’t have to look far from inspiration: some of our greatest modern day sports people have overcome asthma to reach the very top.
Sporting Greats With Asthma
The Tour de France cycle race is one of the most demanding sporting events in the world. The course varies every year, but it always involves more than twenty stages, often traveling over some of Europe’s highest mountains and averaging over a hundred miles per day. It takes great stamina and ability to claim the winner’s famous yellow jersey, but the current champion Chris Froome has done this on four occasions, despite being asthmatic. Other athletes with asthma include marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe, diving great Greg Louganis, and soccer superstar David Beckham. As we can see, asthma need not be a barrier to success in a wide range of sports.
The Latest Treatments In The Fight Against Asthma
Asthma can pose challenges for athletes, especially in sports that require significant endurance and lung capacity. However, many athletes with asthma are able to compete at the highest levels thanks to their determination and the advancements in medical treatments.
For example, therapeutic Usage Exemptions (TUEs) play a crucial role in ensuring that elite athletes with conditions like asthma can use necessary medications to compete fairly. Medications like Salbutamol and anti-hay fever medications can be vital in managing their symptoms.
Moreover, procedures like rhinoplasty can also be a game-changer for athletes. By optimizing nasal anatomy, surgeons can improve airflow, potentially leading to better respiratory function. This can be particularly beneficial for athletes with asthma, as it can help enhance their overall breathing capacity. However, it’s important to be aware of potential post-operative effects like bumps after rhinoplasty and the risk of infection, making a thorough consultation with a healthcare professional essential before undergoing the procedure.
Respiratory Therapy
Respiratory therapy is also bringing great results to many people who have asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other conditions and diseases that affect breathing. Expert respiratory therapists help people of all ages to manage their condition more effectively, and also to regain their ability to lead an active life. Their skills and knowledge are sought out by amateur and professional athletes, as well as ordinary people from all walks of life, and it’s a profession in growing demand. By completing the best respiratory therapy programs, therapists can play a vital role in the fight against asthma.
With the right attitude and the right treatment, whether medication, therapy, or a combination of both, asthma needn’t stop a person achieving their sporting goals – whether that means keeping fit by working out at the gym or going for Olympic gold. Athletes with asthma such as Froome, Louganis, and others have already beaten one formidable opponent, so they have nothing to fear from whoever else is lining up against them. As always in sport, it’s important to concentrate on what you can do and then go out and do it, rather than dwelling upon perceived weaknesses.
