Life as a New Personal Trainer: Understanding Health Conditions – Asthma

To obtain and maintain a certification as a personal trainer, current credentials in CPR and First Aid are required. Along with basic lifesaving knowledge, a personal trainer should also have an understanding of each client’s health conditions or risks. Asthma is a very common health condition that personal trainers should not take lightly.

According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga., asthma is a chronic disease that inflames or narrows the airways of the lungs. Individuals with asthma may experience repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. This could be a huge problem – we need our lungs during a tough workout!

The airways in a person with asthmas are extremely sensitive and react to many triggers. Exercise may trigger an asthma attack, as well as pollens, molds, house dust, infection, weather changes, and stress. Personal trainers must be aware of the workout environment when developing fitness routines for clients with asthma.

Asthma attacks can be managed by monitoring symptoms, taking medicine, and avoiding triggers. Many medicines for asthma are taken through an inhaler, which is a small aerosol canister. If a client has asthma, make it clear to them that their inhaler should be on their person, not in the car, at every session. The medicine in these inhalers relaxes the muscles in the lungs that tighten the airways. By opening the airways, more air can go into and out of the lungs, dramatically improving breathing.

Every case of asthma can be different; however, as mentioned above, the main signs of asthma include wheezing, chronic coughing, shortness of breath, and tightness in chest. If a client experiences these signs during strenuous exercise, it would be in their best interest to seek professional medical advice in order to properly diagnose the problem. It would also be considered a ‘best practice’ for the personal trainer to create an Asthma Action Plan so that he/she is acting as a reasonably prudent fitness professional.  Personal trainers should be proactive health professionals!