A recent photograph of David Beckham using an inhaler at an LA Galaxy MLS Cup final has prompted suspicion that he may suffer from asthma. His spokesman, Simon Oliveira, yesterday confirmed that Beckham has been forced to deal with a mild form of the condition for some time now. Asthma is a condition that causes chronic inflammation of the lungs that can make breathing difficult, cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Over 5 million people in the UK have asthma, 1.4 million of them are children aged under 16 years.
It is reported that David Beckham has suffered from asthma since he was a child and there is now concern that with six of the World Cup venues in South Africa being more than 3,000 feet above sea level that this will have an affect on his performance.
However, according to Dr John Moore-Gillon, a spokesperson for the British Lung Foundation, "Plenty of elite athletes suffer from asthma without it affecting performance, particularly if it is well-controlled. The fact that Beckham’s had it from a young age and has achieved all that he has achieved suggests that he won’t have a problem."
Press release courtesy of the British Lung Foundation
