National Asthma Watch Program Designed To Enhance Safety And Athletic Performance

On the occasion of the first-ever Asthma Awareness Day, sports medicine specialists have launched a national program called "Asthma Watch". According to Gilbert D'Alonzo, D.O., Director of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Director of the Airways Disease Center at Temple University School of Medicine, "this program aims to maximize safety and performance in athletes with asthma." According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), asthma prevalence rates and asthma death rates are increasing nationally. However, most experts believe that asthma related morbidity and mortality is largely preventable with improved education and medical management. Since 1994, The Exercise Induced Asthma Research Center at Temple University School of Medicine has collected data from a variety of sources to better understand asthma and athletics.

"Preliminary data suggests that asthma mortality is higher than once thought and poorly controlled asthma during exercise is frequent," according to Dr. D'Alonzo. Furthermore, even in individuals diagnosed with asthma, exercise induced disease remains a significant problem. With poorly controlled asthma in the athlete, performance fails, and some individuals are at risk for serious morbidity and mortality.

Statistics from the National Institutes of Health indicate that asthma was the first-listed diagnosis in 468,000 U.S. hospital admissions in 1993. Asthma affected an estimated 4.8 million children (under age 18) in 1994. Almost all asthmatics are prone to asthma triggered by moderate to severe exercise. However, exercise induced bronchospasm and asthma can be prevented with education and medical management. According to Dr. D'Alonzo, "the Asthma Watch Program aims to establish national guidelines for sports participation for anyone with a history of asthma."

In the U.S., asthma currently affects 14-15 million individuals while contributing to more than 5,000 deaths annually. "We believe asthma is the number one preventable cause of death in exercise today," says Dr. D'Alonzo.

Fact Sheet

Asthma Watch Program

• The Asthma Watch Program was developed to maximize safety and enhance athletic performance for individuals with asthma.

• Since 1994, The Exercise Induced Asthma Research Center * at Temple University School of Medicine has collected data on asthma and athletics. Sports medicine experts believe the incidence of exercise induced bronchospasm or asthma remains a significant problem. With poorly controlled asthma in the athlete, performance falls and for certain individuals it may be potentially life threatening.

• The Asthma Watch Program promotes a conditional medical clearance to participate in sports which involves the following:

  1. The asthmatic athlete's inhaler is always present on the field during practice or play.

  2. The asthma athlete must be stable with proper medications.

  3. If an individual has to resort to using rescue medication two times in an exercise period or more than three times a week, then the athlete is unstable. At that point referral to the treating physician is recommended for evaluation and perhaps adjustment in medication.

  4. Coaches and athletic trainers must be informed when an athlete has asthma. In cases where rapid asthma treatment is needed, availability of medication with proper administration would be pursued immediately. Activate 911 or emergency medical support if symptoms do not improve substantially within a reasonable period of time.

• For additional information, contact the Exercise Induced Asthma Research Center at Temple University School of Medicine by calling: (215) 641-0687

Note: The Exercise Induced Asthma Research Center at Temple University School of Medicine is partially funded by GlaxoWellcome Inc.