KIDS WITH ASTHMA NEED EXERCISE  

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Balti-  
more, Md., said Monday that 20 percent of children with  
asthma do not get enough exercise. Physical activities such  
as running and swimming have been shown to decrease the  
severity of asthma symptoms. The research, published in the  
April issue of Pediatrics, said the physical inactivity is  
partly due to parents' misconceptions that exercise poses a  
risk to asthmatic children. The research was based on a  
telephone survey of the parents of 137 children with asthma  
and 106 healthy children. The findings also showed that  
children with moderate or severe asthma -- including those  
who take asthma-controlling medications -- were less likely  
to engage in high levels of physical activity. "Despite  
medical advances and a better understanding of asthma, we  
found that beliefs still exist that exercise is dangerous  
for asthmatic children and that children with asthma should  
not exercise," said David Lang, the study's lead author. "In  
reality, physical activity has important benefits for all  
children, including those with asthma."