Cystic Fibrosis and Competitive Exercise – How I Choose to Fight Back Against My Health Conditions

“By forcing myself to breathe hard while exercising, I, in turn, breathe life into my infected lungs.”

Tim Wotton shares how exercise and competitive sports fit into his life with cystic fibrosis – and how they may have helped his longevity.

As I shared in my article, 3 Daily Habits that Help Me with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), exercise is one of my "Holy Trinity of Survival Strategies" to fight against the ravages of my chronic lung condition and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD).

Indeed, exercising has been one of the key differentiators in reaching 52 years old with my original lungs and not getting so unwell that I required a lung transplant.

Undoubtedly, a large part of my longevity in the battle to defy CF can be credited to all the sports I have played throughout my life. I've always kept active with field hockey, basketball, tennis, and, more recently, running and weight training in the gym.

My cystic fibrosis meant that I wasn't expected to survive beyond 17. I'm still alive and living testimony that regular exercise is necessary for keeping CF lungs "tuned." On top of that undeniable benefit, exercise positively impacts me both physically and mentally. I won’t be taking part in an “Iron Man” competition any time soon, as exercise is relative to your fitness levels. Still, I’ll always do what I can to stay as fit as possible.

I give my lungs as hard a time as they give me!

Although CF is an incurable lung disease, my hockey, gym, and jogging keep me going. Despite my illnesses, I feel like I'm living a relatively normal life with a happy family and a good career. Likewise, all the activity boosts my self-esteem and enables me to "keep up" with my healthy peers.

I have found that getting competitive with your health conditions is a positive way to stay one step ahead of the ill effects. Build regular exercise habits, even if it’s walking a short distance every day. Something is better than doing nothing and letting the condition take over.

By forcing myself to breathe hard while exercising, I, in turn, breathe life into my infected lungs. The added bonus is that exercise dramatically enhances my mental health and increases my resilience toward managing cystic fibrosis. Running is a wonderful distraction and allows me to center myself and not let any health worries overtake my thinking.

It’s natural to envy my healthy peers… but I choose to focus on me, not them

When dealing with complex health issues, feeling some resentment toward our healthy peers is understandable. However, this envy can destroy one's heart, mind, and life. It's important not to resent those around you but to show them love and compassion.

I choose to focus on myself and the life I have rather than the life I have not. I appreciate any exercise I can achieve rather than lament what is impossible. Something is definitely better than nothing when it comes to the benefits of regular exercise. 

How I feel playing competitive sports with cystic fibrosis

Post the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I’m back playing field hockey for a local club in South London. Not only that, but I’m lucky to be able to play in the same team as my 16-year-old son, Felix. He plays up front, and I play in defense. I only let team members know about my chronic condition after we’ve been training together for a while. I want them to treat me without any bias.

I don't have enough lung function for long bursts of running in midfield, so I pass the ball and stay within my fitness limits. Even so, it is extremely tough. I must admit that there are times when I have nothing left in my body, and I'm doubled up trying to catch my breath. It’s very tiring, but I'm elated and proud that I can play at all.

It's hard to describe what it means to me to be able to play competitive sports. The benefits shine through during a session or match, but they also impact me long afterward. Exercise brightens my morale, mindset, and long-term hopes for my future. Playing competitive sports means I'm winning, whatever the result.

Exercising has meant that I always held onto one crucial thought when battling through some desperate times – "Never give up!"

For now, it seems my tenacity has made all the difference in defying the odds.

The information presented is solely for educational purposes, not as specific advice for the evaluation, management, or treatment of any condition.

The individual(s) who have written and created the content in and whose images appear in this article have been paid by Teva Pharmaceuticals for their contributions. This content represents the opinions of the contributor and does not necessarily reflect those of Teva Pharmaceuticals. Similarly, Teva Pharmaceuticals does not review, control, influence or endorse any content related to the contributor's websites or social media networks. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice or recommendations. Consult a qualified medical professional for diagnosis and before beginning or changing any treatment regimen. 

NPS-ALL-NP-01151 NOVEMBER 2023