NBA Star With Asthma Tyson Chandler Teams Up With Dr. Melina Jampolis To Raise Awareness About The Importance Of Fitness In Children, Particularly Those With Asthma

Monday, March 1, 2010

NBAStar With Asthma Tyson Chandler Teams Up With Dr. Melina Jampolis To Raise Awareness About The Importance Of Fitness In Children, Particularly Those With Asthma (NAPSA)—NBA star Tyson with a condition like asthma, and Chandler of the Charlotte Bobcats helps children never give up on was diagnosed with asthma in their dreams.” There are many waysthat par2004, though it’s clear that with the right management, this condients can help their children have an active and fit life even when tion hasn’t gotten in the way of his physical fitness. As an ambasdealing with asthma: Create a fitness routine for sador for the inaugural 2009-2010 NBA FIT/WNBAFIT Challenge, your child where they can decide what kinds of exercises they enjoy Tyson has teamed up with fitness and nutrition expert, Dr. Melina and would like to participate in. Encourage yourchild to take Jampolis to raise awareness about part in organized activities and the importance of fitness for today’s youth, particularly for ew \N y/ a team sports as this will guarantee those who have asthma and may 2009 NBA Entertainment. Photo by Kent structured exercise in your child’s Smith/NBAE via Getty Images avoid exercising. life. The NBA FIT/WNBAFIT Chal- NBA star Tyson Chandler and fit Explore how much exercise lenge is a nationwide competition ness and nutrition expert Dr. your child is getting at school and for boys and girls ages 14 and Melina Jampolis want to raise make sure to count this towards under that encourages partici- awareness about the importance their daily routine. Even an active pants to maintain active andfit of fitness for today’s youth. recess or class trip can count lifestyles through time-based fittowardsfitness. ness courses. The NBA FIT/ Set up active play dates Both Tyson and Dr. Jampolis WNBAFIT Challenge also aims to want to help raise awareness with your child’s classmates so raise awareness about asthma among parents of children with exercise can be incorporated and proper asthma management. asthma that the disease does not with playtime. As part of their involvement, need to get in the way of their At the end of the week, evalTyson and Dr. Jampolis hope to overall fitness. “A child should be uate the exercise that your child motivate children and their par- able to engage in regular physical has accomplished and ensure that ents to engage in an active lifeactivity in their daily life and it adds up to approximately 60 style and if they have asthma, to with the right management, minutes per day. discuss an appropriate plan of asthma should not be an obstacle. Try to makefitness a family action with their physician. Parents need to talk with their affair. Plan activities like going for Today, about 17 percent of chil- child’s doctor about managing the a bike ride, playing tag or football dren between the ages of 6 and 19 condition so their child can enjoy in the park instead of going to the are overweight—more than double an active andfit lifestyle,” said movies on weekends. the proportion since 1980. Accord- Dr. Jampolis. Before starting any exercise Tyson Chandleris living proof routine or program, parents ing to the U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices, chil- that, with the right management, should talk to their child’s doctor. Parents of children with dren and teens need 60 minutes of one can enjoy an active and fit activity a day for their health. lifestyle even when diagnosed asthma should understand their These facts are importantfor all with asthma. He hopes that his child’s condition and educate children, but particularly impor- personal story will help inspire themselves on asthma control. To tant for those who have asthma— people with asthma to be active. learn more about their child’s cona disease affecting over 6 million “Dr. Jampolis and I are thrilled to dition, parents should speak with children in the United States. For be talking about the importance of their child’s doctor. They can also up to 80 percent of asthma pa- children’s fitness, particularly for access an online asthma resource, tients, exercise can act as a trig- kids with asthma who may think www.ASTHMyths.com, to find out ger for their condition, which may they don’t have a chance to play more about some of the common discourage parents from allowing sports or be active,” said Chan- myths and facts about asthma. To their child to be active. The fact is dler. “Physical fitness is so impor- learn more about how physicalfitthat, when controlled, asthma tant to a child’s health and happi- ness can benefit children with or should not get in the way of their ness. I hope my experience as an without asthma and for fun tips to child participating in exercise or NBAplayer serves as an example keep families fit, visit physical activities. of how active one can be, even www.nba.com/nbafit.

--- PHOTOS ---

File: 20190801-001632-20190801-001629-78639.pdf.jpg

--- FILES ---

File: 20190801-001629-78639.pdf