Though they affect different systems of the body, both exercise-induced asthma and anemia share common symptoms that can impact physical activity. Through different mechanisms, each condition affects how the body distributes oxygen to its cells. Oxygen provides an efficient means for the body to produce energy. Anything that impairs its delivery to the body's cells can affect your performance.
What Is Exercise-Induced Asthma?
Exercise-induced asthma is a type of respiratory condition in which physical activity can trigger an unknown series of events in the body that causes a spasm in the muscle of the bronchi of the lungs. Symptoms include cough, wheezing, chest tightness, among others. While its exact cause is not known, certain environmental triggers such as air quality or cold, dry air may trigger symptoms during or after exercise. In addition, some activities may worsen an attack, especially those of higher intensities such as cross-country skiing.
What Is Anemia?
Anemia describes a condition in which the body has a deficiency in red blood cells. This lack of adequate amounts of red blood cells can impair the body's ability to deliver oxygen to its cells, not unlike the constriction of airways affects asthma sufferers with shortness of breath. Anemia patients may suffer other similar symptoms including chest discomfort and fatigue, though the mechanism driving the symptoms in each of these health conditions is different. Some types of anemia may have signs such as the abnormal shaped red blood cells indicative of sickle cell anemia.
Causes
Without a known cause, people with exercise-induced asthma must determine their individual triggers for asthma attacks. In this way, they can find some relief in prevention. Anemia, on the other hand, has several well-defined causes that can direct a course of treatment. It can be caused by dietary deficiencies of nutrients necessary for red blood cell formation. It may have hereditary causes as in hemolytic anemia. Infections, reactions to medications and pregnancy can also be underlying causes.
Treatment
Because the cause and precise biological mechanism is unknown, exercise-induced asthma has no cure. Rather, treatment involves prevention and control of symptoms. Treatment options and cures exist for anemia, especially those caused by dietary deficiencies such as vitamin B12 or iron. Supplements or injections can help correct the deficiencies; however, permanent damage may result if treatment is not started promptly. Both exercise-induced asthma and anemia may affect your physical activity. However, with prevention and specific treatment options, you can maintain your quality of life and still enjoy exercising.
References
- "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology"; G. Tortora, et al.; 2005
- Mayo Clinic: Exercise-Induced Asthma - Causes
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Asthma Facts and Figures
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Anemia
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Sickle Cell Test
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hemolytic Anemia
