Last week Body & Soul profiled 14-year-old Rachel Doughty who has asthma and talked about how it restricts her ability to participate in sports.

Rachel has never had an asthma attack or had to go to the hospital for difficulty breathing. But many asthmatics say they forgo exercise because it will trigger an attack.

Visiting asthma specialist Professor Martyn Partridge responded to this in his public talk last week. He said in Bermuda such an attack would indicate that the person was not managing their asthma well.

Prof. Partridge is President of the British Thoracic Society and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Imperial College London. He said in cold climates, cold dry air breathed into a person's chest can trigger an attack as the cold air comes into contact with irritable airways. But he said the warm moist air of Bermuda would not cause irritation to airways.

His advice was that asthmatics who have difficulty breathing after exercise, should take two puffs of their inhaler 20 minutes before they start any exercise.

The thrust of his presentation was that well managed asthma is key to healthy living for all asthmatics.

Prof. Partridge gave his talk at the Bermuda Underwater exploration Institute last Thursday. He was brought to the Island by the asthma charity Open Airways, as part of Asthma Awareness celebrations this month. Open Airways acts as support, education and lobby for asthmatics in Bermuda.

Prof. Partridge's message echoed those of local asthma nurses Liz Boden, Debbie Barboza and Jennifer Wilson that asthma attacks can be avoided by the correct use of medications. All also advocate getting rid of environmental factors that often trigger the condition such as dust and perfumes. This means avoiding materials where possible that hold dust like carpet, rugs, and certain bedding and drapery fabrics.

For more information on asthma visit Open Airways at www.openairways.com or call 232-0264.