For people who suffer with asthma, in may be intimidating to think about engaging in physical activities. It can be especially scary if these take place outside during the winter, since cold air can in some cases worsen symptoms. For children in Pennsylvania, however, one doctor and his colleagues hope to give their childhood asthma patients a boost of confidence by showing them that they can in fact enjoy a day on the ski slopes in spite of their disease.
Geisinger Community Medical Center (GCMC), based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, recently put on its 30th annual Asthma Ski Day at Snö Mountain, giving asthma sufferers under 18-years-old the opportunity to strap on some skis and spend the day outside with others who are afflicted by this chronic respiratory disease.
Dr. Jacub Lekach, an allergist at the GCMC, told The Scranton Times Tribune that while cold weather and exercise are associated with asthma attacks they aren’t direct triggers. Still, he and his colleagues were present on the mountain to offer emergency assistance if needed. The skiers were also advised to bring their inhalers and any other medication in case they needed it.
According to the source, about 200 people showed up to this year’s event. One of them was Kayla Bickauskas, an eight-year-old who spent hours on the slopes.
“I don’t want her to be afraid to do anything in the cold weather because of asthma,” Kayla’s mother Johnine Bickauskas said when asked about her daughter.
It’s great to see that there are initiatives out there that give children with chronic respiratory diseases the ability to gain some confidence in spite of their condition. For those suffering from asthma, there are simple products you can invest in to help eliminate the presence of certain triggers. A whole house air purifier can remove common irritants such as pet dander and dust mites directly from the air.
