Jerome Bettis Tackling Asthma

Jerome Bettis has achieved significant things in his career as a NFL football player:

• 13,662 rushing yards over his career- 5th all-time
• Third in the NFL with 3428 rushing attempts
• Won the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 2001
• Super Bowl Champion

What many people did not know is that he also has asthma and works very hard to keep it under control. According to an interview published in 2006 in Asthma Magazine, he was diagnosed with asthma when he first went out for football and his symptoms were well controlled after beginning medication. Like many young people, he began not keeping a close eye on his asthma in college and had a severe asthma attack during a game that required oxygen and an injection to help him breathe better.

Jerome Bettis now works with the American Lung Association to promote asthma awareness.

Photo © Streeter Lecka/ Getty Images