Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward is using his platform to talk about something bigger than football: living — and playing at a high level — with asthma, and why he wants fans and young athletes to know it does not have to stop them from doing what they love. In an exclusive interview with Heavy, he is also urging people to talk to their doctors about a simple blood test that can reveal a more severe type called eosinophilic asthma.
Steelers Star Details Weekly Asthma Routine & Game-Day Plan
Heyward said his asthma is something he has to manage constantly, especially during the grind of an NFL season. During conditioning work, he tries to push himself while “listening to my body,” taking extra time to get his breathing under control instead of simply powering through.
On game days, the veteran lineman lays out a clear plan with the medical staff. He said he typically uses his inhaler before kickoff, and if he is feeling under the weather, he will also turn to a nebulizer treatment before the game and again at halftime to keep his airways under control.
“Understanding what my body needs, communicating a lot beforehand, plays a big part in being an athlete with asthma,” Heyward explained, emphasizing that he does not just wait for a problem to show up before he acts.
Despite years in the league and the physical demands of the position, Heyward said his body is holding up really well and he still believes there is “a lot of meaningful football” ahead — but only because he has learned to take his asthma seriously and build a routine around it.
Why Heyward Is Talking About Eosinophilic Asthma
Heyward has partnered with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca on a campaign to raise awareness about eosinophilic asthma, a more severe form of the disease. It is linked to elevated levels of certain white blood cells called eosinophils, which can increase inflammation in the chest and airways.
Although Heyward said he does not have eosinophilic asthma himself, he wanted to “share my story first” and then shine a light on what is happening to others whose asthma may be more serious than they realize. He explained that eosinophilic asthma is becoming more common and more severe for some patients, and that too many people still think of asthma as one uniform condition.
Crucially, Heyward stressed that asthma is not one-size-fits-all. There are different types of asthma, and doctors can use a simple blood test to help determine whether someone may be dealing with eosinophilic asthma instead of, or in addition to, the “regular” asthma they think they have.
“If you’re having those conversations with your doctor, they’re going to find the right recommendations and the right treatments and the right tests,” Heyward said, adding that his goal is to give people “another tool in your toolbox” so they are not scrambling for answers once symptoms get worse.
The Warning Signs Heyward Wants Fans to Take Seriously
Asked what he would say to someone whose asthma seems “under control,” Heyward pointed to specific warning signs that should spark a conversation with a doctor — not a wait-and-see approach.
He mentioned:
- Wheezing that becomes more frequent
- Chest tightness or feeling like the chest is closing up
- Allergy triggers that suddenly hit harder
- Cold weather causing noticeable breathing problems or flare-ups
“When you start to wheeze, when your chest starts to feel tight, when you’re starting to have triggers toward different allergies and you start to feel some of the stuff I mentioned before… you should be having these conversations with your doctors,” he said.
For Heyward, hesitation is the real enemy. “The worst thing you can do is wait,” he added, saying he hopes that by sharing stories, people will recognize similarities and think, “Hey, I might have something similar. I should get this checked out.”
Message to Kids: Asthma ‘Is Not a Debilitating Disease’
For Heyward, the issue is personal. He was diagnosed with asthma as a kid, and he is aware of how discouraging that can be for young athletes who dream of playing sports at a high level.
One message he wishes he had heard at age 8: asthma should not keep you from doing what you love.
“Asthma is a disease, but it’s not a debilitating disease,” Heyward said. “This is something we can manage.” He noted that asthma can affect “the biggest person to the smallest person,” and that understanding this can help kids feel “we’re more alike than not.”
Heyward’s own career — an All-Pro defensive lineman still battling in the trenches while managing asthma — underscores that message. For him, the bottom line is simple: asthma is real and it is serious, but with the right plan, communication and care, “this is something we can manage.”
More information can be found at AsthmaBehavingBadly.com.
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