Athletic asthma--which is more commonly referred to as exercise-induced asthma--is an inflammatory lung condition that develops following physical exercise. Approximately 80 to 90 percent of patients with asthma develop athletic asthma symptoms after exercising, explain health officials with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The symptoms of athletic asthma mimic those of asthma and typically arise within 5 to 10 minutes after exercising, reports the AAFA. Patients who develop athletic asthma symptoms should seek additional guidance from a medical professional.
Wheezing
During physical exercise, the body's breathing rate naturally increases. In patients with athletic asthma, this shallow, rapid breathing can irritate the airway passages and lungs. As a result, the airway can become inflamed and constricted. When this occurs, affected patients can begin to wheeze as a symptom of athletic asthma, explains KidsHealth.org, a children's health information website supported by the Nemours Foundation. Wheezing is a high-pitched squeaking noise that arises in the chest as air attempts to flow through the narrowed airway passages into the lungs. Symptoms of wheezing can occur shortly after an affected patient begins to exercise and may persist for several minutes or hours.
Coughing
Inflammation of the lungs caused by exposure to cold air can lead to symptoms of cough in patients with athletic asthma. Coughing symptoms are generally dry or hacking and may not occur until affected patients finish working out. These symptoms may last for several minutes or hours but typically subside shortly after onset.
Chest Discomfort
Dry, cold air can irritate the airway passages during physical exercise. When this occurs, patients with athletic asthma can experience chest discomfort as a symptom of this condition. Affected patients can develop sensations of tightness or pain within the chest, which may contribute to shortness of breath, explain medical professionals at MayoClinic.com. Chest tightness occurs because the lungs are unable to expand normally during inhalation due to excessive inflammation. Patients who experience chest discomfort should seek immediate medical care as this symptom can also be a sign of a heart attack.
Sudden Fatigue
Patients with athletic asthma can become easily fatigued during physical exercise as a symptom of this condition. These patients may need to frequently stop to rest or catch their breath during physical activities. If this occurs, affected patients may perform poorly during athletic activities even if they maintain a healthy diet and body weight.
