Exercise plays a key role in maintaining your health, but in some cases, exercise can trigger asthma symptoms. Exercise-induced asthma is not uncommon, particularly if you already suffer from allergic asthma. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that an estimated 80 to 90 percent of people with allergic asthma will experience symptoms of exercise-induced asthma after vigorous exercise. Taking asthma medications and modifying your fitness routine can help you continue to exercise safely.
Identification
Exercise-induced asthma causes the small airways in your lungs to constrict and produce excess mucus, making it difficult to breathe. If you have exercise-induced asthma, you may experience coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain or a tight feeling in the chest when you exercise. Symptoms usually begin when you start exercising, but may continue up to 30 minutes after you stop exercising. In some cases, symptoms may not start until four to 12 hours after you exercise and may continue for up to 24 hours.
Risk Factors
Exercising when it's cold outside or the air is dry can trigger exercise-induced asthma. You may also find that you are more susceptible to asthma when you already have an upper respiratory illness, such as a cold, or if the pollen count is high. Smoke, smog and certain types of strong scents and odors, such as fertilizers, paint or chlorine, can also cause symptoms. Exercises that cause your breathing rate to increase, such as running or playing soccer, are more likely to cause symptoms than participating in more moderate types of exercise.
Treatment
If you only experience asthma when you exercise, your doctor may recommend that you use a quick-relief inhaler approximately 10 minutes before you begin exercising. You can also use the inhaler to help relieve symptoms during exercise. Taking allergy medications or undergoing allergy shots will help reduce symptoms caused by allergies. If asthma is a chronic problem, your doctor will prescribe a long-acting inhaler to keep symptoms under control and may also recommend that you use a quick-relief inhaler before exercising.
Prevention
In addition to following the treatment plan your doctor recommends, you can reduce exercise-induced asthma symptoms by making some changes to your fitness routine. Exercising indoors is a good idea when it is cold outside, if you live in an area with high levels of pollution, or if you have allergies and the pollen count is high. Changing the type of exercise you do can also help reduce symptoms. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends choosing activities that involve only short bursts of exercise, such as walking, baseball and football. Swimming in an indoor pool is recommended because the air you breathe while swimming is moist and humid and less likely to irritate your lungs.
