Asthma is a potentially life-threatening respiratory condition affecting an estimated 300 million people worldwide, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. An asthma attack can be triggered by numerous stimuli, including allergic reactions, temperature changes and physical exertion. For athletes, exercise-induced asthma (EIA) can be a serious threat to both performance and safety.
Triggers
A stimulus that causes an asthma attack is referred to as a trigger. Allergies are a common asthma trigger in addition to sickness or infection. In the case of sports-related asthma, the increased demands exercise places on the respiratory system are enough to trigger the attack. The attack can occur during, or shortly after, exercise.
Mechanisms
An exercise-induced asthma attack affects the sufferer in two ways. The first is through a tightening of the muscles of the bronchial tubes, which constricts them. The second is by the release of a thick mucus into the airway, which the sufferer is often unable to cough up. Both mechanisms leave the asthma sufferer unable to get enough oxygen into her lungs.
Symptoms
An asthma attack is characterized primarily by the inability to breathe. An asthma attack is often described as feeling like trying to breathe through a straw or trying to breathe with someone sitting on your chest. During an asthma attack, sufferers will often show labored breathing and will wheeze audibly. An athlete suffering from an asthma attack will likely be unable to continue activity until after the attack has been brought under control.
Medications
Asthma medications can be divided into two categories. Preventative medications are intended to manage asthma symptoms on a daily basis and typically include a combination of cortico-steroids and anti-inflamatories. While these medications are generally effective at preventing asthma attacks, they are not recommended for reversing the effects of an attack in progress. Rescue medications can immediately end an attack, but are not to be used as a long-term method for asthma management.
