This is called an asthma attack, and it can be touched off by anything from cold air to a speck of dust, from tobacco smoke to magic marker fumes. Even kids with persistent asthma may notice breathing problems primarily during physical exertion. Exercise is good for the lungs, but it causes the airways to lose both heat and moisture, especially if the air is cold and dry. This can irritate the bronchial tubes and cause them to swell, creating the conditions for an attack. Less often, a child will have these symptoms in the middle of an activity.
Some sports are especially likely to cause asthma attacks.
Sports that requires intense effort with little or no letup rank second, including soccer, long-distance running, and competitive cycling. Swimming, on the other hand, which is done in a humid environment, rarely brings on attacks. Staying in the game Asthma doesn't have to keep your child out of the game. The right treatments can usually prevent asthma attacks in any sport. If your child's disease is severe, however, he may need to stick with swimming, baseball, or other sports on the safe end of the scale.