Sports and PAH
From Pahwiki
The ability of people with Pulmonary Hypertension to participate in sports appears to be dependent upon the severity of their symptoms as well as their types of medication. Intervenous drugs such as Flolan or IV Remodulin can greatly complicate certain sports.
[edit] Swimming
Swimming with IV medication can be done if performed carefully. Typically that involves swimming with a dry suit. Alternatively, in highly controlled situations, some patients swim with an Aqua Guard and a carefully protected pump. Most doctor's however, would warn against exposing the Broviac site to potential contamination from a swimming pool.
Even with a drysuit, the moderate likelyhood of contaminating the Flolan pump with water suggests the need for pump waterproofing. While waterproof cases work, routing the tubing out of the case without pinching the tubing shut is difficult. In addition, cases do not work very well underneath the dry suit.
[edit] Rock Climbing
Rock Climbing is a great strength enhancing sport for children suffering from Pulmonary Hypertension. In a controlled environment such as a rock climbing gym, top roping in conjunction with harnesses and a trained spotter.
[edit] Baseball/Softball
Our son starting playing baseball. With his Flolan pump and Broviac, we had to take special precautions to ensure that his play did not result in direct impact to the Broviac or tugging on the medication line that feeds to the Broviac.
In order to protect the Broviac entrance site, we purchased a Heart-Gard chest protector. The device needs to be positioned slightly higher and to the right (facing the child) than a person would normally wear. It seems to work and doesn't move around when he is playing.
