Exercise induced asthma, also called exercise induced bronchospasm or exercise induced bronchoconstriction, is a condition that results in coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath upon physical exertion. For some people, exercise may be the only cause of such symptoms; for others, exercise is one of many such triggers. Learning to overcome exercise induced asthma helps you participate in physical activities.
Consult your healthcare provider for individual treatment and prevention strategies.
Common symptoms of exercise induced asthma are coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. Less common symptoms may be chest pain, headache and stomach pain. These symptoms may occur during exercise or within five to 20 minutes after physical activity.
Prevention
Strategies to prevent or reduce exercise induced asthma flare-ups center around avoiding general and individual triggers. Triggers are substances or conditions that result in the symptoms of exercise induced asthma. General triggers known to affect the majority of people with this condition include cold, dry air; high air pollution levels; mouth breathing; allergens.
Individual triggers are those that apply to you specifically. Some types of exercise more than others can result in exercise induced asthma. You might be sensitive to one allergen and not affected by substances that produce allergy symptoms in other people.
Avoidance of triggers altogether is not always possible, but by modifying your physical activity methods you may be able to reduce flare-ups.
Considerations
Modifying exercise methods may help to reduce or eliminate symptoms of exercise induced asthma. If you exercise in dry or cold conditions, breathe through your nose and wear a mask or scarf over your mouth.
Warming up before strenuous physical activity and cooling down afterward may help. The longer the warm-up period, the more likely your exercise induced asthma symptoms will be reduced or eliminated. Avoid strenuous exercise when you have a fever or a viral infection.
Recommendations
Basketball, soccer and other activities that require nearly non-stop movement are more likely to cause flare-ups of exercise induced asthma.
Swimming, walking, leisure biking and hiking as well as team sports such as football, baseball and short track and field activities are less likely to trigger episodes.
Cold weather activities such as cross-country skiing are more apt to cause exercise induced asthma symptoms, but with proper diagnosis and treatment from a healthcare provider, many people can participate in cold weather activities.
Warning
People who have exercise induced asthma may not be aware of their condition, attributing the symptoms to being out of shape or having overdone an activity. Consulting a healthcare provider for diagnosis is the first step in overcoming this condition.
Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms of exercise induced asthma, such as shortness of breath and wheezing, are rapidly becoming worse or if you continue to be short of breath after your activity recovery.
