If you experience breathing problems when you exercise, you may be suffering from exercise-induced asthma, or EIA, a condition that afflicts 300 million people around the world, according to the World Health Organization. Your doctor can make a determination as to whether you have EIA through your medical history and tests. A diagnosis of EIA, however, doesn't mean you have to avoid exercising altogether.
Identification
With any form of asthma, the airway tubes in your lungs that carry oxygen into and out of your lungs become inflamed, narrowed and produce extra mucus. This makes it harder for you to breathe and can also lead to wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness, especially in the case of exercise. You can have EIA and not have chronic asthma, however. Symptoms of EIA typically occur after starting exercise and continue until five to 10 minutes after stopping, although in some cases it may take up to 24 hours for symptoms to subside, reports the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Causes
The direct cause of exercise-induced asthma is unknown. People with EIA tend to be more sensitive to cold temperatures and dry air. Since air is warmed and humidified in your nose, breathing through your mouth during vigorous exercise allows colder, drier air to reach your lungs, triggering asthma symptoms. Air pollution, pollen and respiratory infections can also be triggers, as can being out of shape, or having poorly controlled nasal allergies or vocal chord issues.
Significance
It's estimated that 80 to 90 percent of all people with allergic asthma will experience symptoms of exercise-induced asthma upon vigorous exercise or activity, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Asthma of any type, whether it's affected or induced by exercise or not, can lead to a range of complications including poor athletic performance, as well as permanent narrowing of the bronchial tubes that makes breathing difficult and could lead to emphysema or chronic obstructive respiratory disorder. Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening and require hospitalization.
Testing
To determine whether you have EIA, also called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, your doctor will first take your health history to gauge the triggers for your breathing problems and their extent. He'll then conduct a breathing test, called spirometry, while you are resting. This test measures the narrowing of your bronchial tubes by checking how much air and how quickly you can exhale after a deep breath. You may also be given a follow-up exercise challenge test, called a a bronchoprovocation challenge, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Your physician will watch you exercise in the sport you play, have you run outside or cycle or run on a treadmill, and then test the amount of air you force out of your lungs with another spirometry test. If you exhale air less forcefully after exercise, then you may be diagnosed with EIA.
Expert Insight
A study at the University of Washington's Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, led by Teal S. Hallstrand, MD, compared patients with mild occasional asthma to a control group in a 10-week aerobic conditioning program. They found that aerobic fitness in both asthmatic and non-asthmatic participants was significantly improved. But the asthma patients also had the additional benefits of an increased breathing capacity and decreased hyperpnea, or an abnormal increase in depth and rate of respiration.
Prevention/Solution
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America indicates that with proper treatment and management, you can safely participate in exercise if you have asthma or exercise-induced asthma, as many Olympic athletes now do. The Foundation suggests taking medication prior to exercise and warming up six to 10 minutes before starting activity. You should also avoid exercising if you have a cold or respiratory infection and during high pollen counts or smoggy days and try to exercise at times and places where it's more humid. Learning to breathe through your nose to warm the air before it enters your lungs cans also be helpful. You may need to take a few puffs from an asthma inhaler immediately prior to exercising that can help control symptoms for a few hours. If these steps aren't enough, you may require prescription bronchodilators.
Warning
The Canadian Lung Association warns that if you experience weakness or shortness of breath while exercising, you should stop and wait a few minutes to see if your symptoms improve. If so, you can warm up again and slowly return to exercising. If symptoms don't improve or your symptoms are worse than usual even after using quick-acting inhalers, you should seek medical care as soon as possible.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Asthma
- American Association of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Asthma and Exercise
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Exercise-Induced Asthma
- Aerobic Conditioning in Mild Asthma Decreases the Hyperpnea of Exercise and Improves Exercise and Ventilatory Capacity
- American Council on Fitness: Exercise and Asthma
