Asthma Rates in Coaches & Skaters

[Virtualsk8r]

Both the American and Canadian tv outlets have published/broadcast stories this week about the poor air quality in ice rinks, which is linked to the high rates of asthma amongst athletes. I have a lot of experience with asthma and spend a lot of time inside ice rinks, so I find this fascinating.

4rkids commented under another thread about this, but I would like to start a new thread to hear what others have to say about this problem.

I know that inhalers are a common site along the boards and at competitions for skaters -- but it has been my experience that many doctors simply prescribe an inhaler when a skater complains about not being able to make it through a program. I've known a few of these skaters -- and it wasn't asthma that was preventing them from doing their programs but a lack of conditioning. Of course, these skaters never took the drugs properly (you can see them at the boards or just before going on the ice eagerly inhaling these things rather than at least 10-15 minutes prior to exercise and most times the skaters were not even using the devices properly so they never got the dosage!) The drugs were prescribed without any diagnostic testing such as a pulmonary function test or challenge.

Will this report now encourage parents whose skaters are out of shape - to go after inhalers for their 'asthma', risking more people to the side effects of these drugs?

Or, will the various government and regulatory bodies sit up and listen to our complaints about air quality inside ice rinks? I know our rink doesn't really care as it is a private facility. There is mold growing along the walls - which contributes to allergies and asthma - and we can't bring in an independent air quality testor without the rink's permission.

At least if the governments took some sort of action, we could be better protected.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[beegeemom]

I had to laugh that you posted this. Only because I was at my doctor yesterday for pneumonia, and the first thing he said is I was spending too much time in skating rinks. I know dd's private coach has been sick a lot this winter too.

As for the inhalers, I do think they're handed out more often than needed, but who knows!

[Kay]

I agree with you that their should be some sort of air quality standard, especially for public skating arena's. Mould growing on walls is simply unacceptable, especially in this day and age of allergies and the number of documented deaths due to toxic mould.

In Canada, there is currently an enormous movement that has banned smoking in all public indoor places (restaurants, bars, bingo halls, casinos, offices, etc.) and it is moving in the direction of even further bans. Couple that with the increasing public awareness of green house gases and our air pollution problems, and the fact that the weather report now gives air quality rating right alongside the temperature, and we seem to be a society obsessed with breathing good air - so why aren't we monitoring mould spores in the arena's? Arena's are where adults and children alike spent a considerable amount of time. It certainly is a topic that needs some more media coverage to get the ball rolling.

[Virtualsk8r]

Here's a thought.......how can we lobby the USFSA and Skate Canada to take an active role in protecting the lungs of our young skaters and coaches?

I heard a story of a coach who developed a fatal lung condition and went after after the rink and skating association for compensation. Of course, the details were kept hush hush - so I was not surprised that I had not heard of this before someone who knew the coach involved told me the details.

Perhaps we need to find a lobby group willing to take on the cause and keep track of illnesses related to the air quality in arenas?

[4rkidz]

well we need to lobby the appropriate ministries in each country to demand that health and safety in rinks is priorized! We could in Canada contact our local councillors as I believe its parks and recreation which is the responsibility of the local gov't.. or the mayors?? First thing though is to find out under whose jurisdiction - and then demand that air quality testing is done in each of our rinks.. my daughter has spent the last 11 years in rinks (me too) and is also asthmatic (2 different types of puffers and singular since age 4)..

:giveup:

[Virtualsk8r]

4rkids is right. But how can we start a lobby group dedicated to cleaning up the airquality in our rinks. Asthma drugs are expensive - at $100 an inhaler and usually at least 3 are needed (rescue, cortisone, and daily reliever - plus about $100 for singular or accolate if required ----the only cheap part about asthma is if you are put on predisone tablets, which cost about $3.00 for a supply!)

I know that when we skate at another training facility in another city (major city with high smog index at times but brand new rink and clean) - we don't have any problem with tightness etc....Coincidence?

My respirologist says until I get out of ice rinks, he'll keep seeing me a few times a year -- and every visit he laughs when he asks if I am still at rinks all day!