Playing sport with PH

Lots of people, including me, think that sport is fun, but having PH can sometimes get in the way a bit with what I want to do. Not only is sport fun, but it is also good for us and I think it’s important to be as fit as possible, especially when you have PH.

I love a range of sporting activities, including netball, basketball, badminton, dance and swimming. At the moment, I go to a dance club during one lunchtime each week at school and I do an hour-long dance class as part of my Stagecoach session on a Saturday. I also train with the school netball club after school on Tuesdays and do a two-hour PE lesson every week in school. Before Easter we did basketball in PE lessons and the summer term will be athletics, and I am looking forward to that a lot.

Having PH means that I get out of breath more quickly than my friends when doing things like running, jumping and anything that needs a lot of energy, especially if I need to keep going. Taking my medications definitely helps and I notice that I am more breathless if I forget to take a dose of pills. I find that my breathlessness varies throughout the year, and I think that I am worse in spring and sometimes the summer and that it may be to do with pollen.

I know that I have to be careful not to push myself too hard. It’s OK to be out of breath, but I shouldn’t get to the point of having chest pain or

Young Emphasis columnist Emily is 11 years old, and she has had pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) since she was three. This issue, she tells us how she manages to enjoy sport and physical activity.

by Emily Gravenstede

being dizzy. So, my PE teachers and dance teachers know that if I stop, or change moves so I am doing a bit less, this is just so I can be OK and keep going. For example, in dance, I do less exaggerated movements and less jumping moves during the warm-ups and practices. In netball, I do the same, and if I need to I might walk when the others are running. It is harder to adapt during games of netball because I really want my team to win. I tend to play in a position that has the least running (goal shooter or goal keeper) and sometimes I play as an extra player – so I can do what I can, but am not responsible for marking a particular position. I just go to practice, and I don’t play in competitive matches anymore, but I still really enjoy netball.

Have fun, enjoy sport, but don’t push yourself too hard!

Emily x