Exercise-induced asthma is a disease in which the airways become irritated during exercise or other strenuous activity. Most people with chronic asthma also suffer from exercise-induced asthma, but it is also possible to have exercise-induced asthma without chronic asthma. With proper medication and preparation, people with exercise-induced asthma can continue to participate in many forms of exercise.
Symptoms
Typical symptoms of exercise-induced asthma include wheezing, chest pain or tightness, coughing and shortness of breath. Symptoms usually appear soon after exercise begins and tend to peak about 5 to 10 minutes after stopping exercise. Severity may vary widely from patient to patient. Symptoms usually resolve in 20 or 30 minutes, although some patients may take an hour or more to recover. While exercise-induced asthma may appear to exhibit characteristics similar to simply being out of shape, people with exercise-induced asthma take much longer to recover than people who are just out of the habit of exercising.
Causes
When not exercising, people normally breathe slowly and inhale air in through their nose, which allows air to be warmed and humidified by the nasal passages. During exercise, however, you tend to breathe faster and inhale through your mouth. As a result, your lungs receive air that is colder and drier than normal. People with exercise-induced asthma have more sensitive airways than normal, so this change in air temperature and humidity causes their airways to contract, making it more difficult to breathe. Because of the importance of air temperature, symptoms may be worse during especially cold weather.
Diagnosis
See your doctor if you suspect you or your child may have exercise-induced asthma. Your doctor will take a health history and listen while you explain your symptoms and triggers. He may also administer a breathing test before, during and after you exercise. If you do have exercise-induced asthma, getting a diagnosis and treatment is essential in ensuring that you can exercise safely.
Treatment
Exercise-induced asthma can usually be successfully treated with medication and behavior strategies. Your doctor will likely prescribe an inhaled medication that you take shortly before exercising to help prevent symptoms. If this medication alone is not sufficient, you may also regularly take a controller medication to reduce inflammation in your airways. Following a warm-up routine before exercise and a cool-down routine after exercise can be helpful in controlling symptoms. You may also want to limit exercise during high pollen counts, especially low temperatures or when you have a respiratory infection.
Recommended Exercise
Sticking to certain forms of exercise can also be helpful in controlling your symptoms. People with exercise-induced asthma often do best with exercise that consists of short bursts of exertion, such as walking, hiking, baseball, gymnastics and volleyball. Swimming is also a good choice, since the warm, moist air promotes easy breathing. Sports that require long periods of continuous exertion, such as basketball or soccer, may not be tolerated as well. Cold weather sports like skiing can also be problematic. If you really have a passion for a particular sport, however, effective treatment allows many people with exercise-induced asthma to participate in any strenuous sport.
References
- KidsHealth from Nemours: Exercise-Induced Asthma
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Exercise-Induced Asthma
- Cleveland Clinic: Exercise-Induced Asthma
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Exercise-Induced Asthma
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology: Tips to Remember -- Asthma and Exercise
