That's Fit

Asthma stinks -- especially asthma in a child. The wheezing, coughing, dark circles under the eyes and fear in their eyes during a serious episode is frightening to children and parents alike. These same fears can spillover when it comes to the attitude of an asthmatic child toward exercise and its associated breathlessness.

However, new research shows exercise may be just what the doctor ordered. A study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise studied the effects of an exercise program on children with moderate to severe persistent asthma. Not only did the trained children require 52 percent less daily inhaled steroids, they also self-reported a better quality of health.

At the age of two, my son was on daily inhaled steroids for a couple of years. Two year olds are pretty busy by nature, so I don't know if adding a fitness regimen could have reduce his need for the drug. But this study certainly suggests regular exercise is a concrete treatment strategy for kids with asthma.