The decision to have surgery is not made lightly. Surgery can be painful, have risks and entail a lengthy recovery. All surgeries are completed with some type of anesthesia. Anesthesia provides pain control and relaxes you for surgery. Prior to surgery, your doctor will require physical clearance and a medical history to ensure your safety. Your anesthesiologist will also need to be aware of your medical history -- including such conditions as exercise-induced asthma.
Exercise-Induced Asthma
Exercise-induced asthma causes coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath when you exert yourself during physical activity. Other symptoms may include tightening of your airways and the production of extra mucus. You may also experience poor athletic performance and extreme fatigue during physical activity. Exercise-induced asthma symptoms usually begin a few minutes after beginning a workout. For others, symptoms may not occur until a workout is completed. For most people with exercise-induced asthma, a quick-relief inhaler prior to exercising will control symptoms. Others may require long-term medication to keep symptoms under control.
Complications
For many individuals, exercise is the only event that causes asthma symptoms. For some individuals, pollen, pet danger and airborne allergens may also cause symptoms. Most asthma symptoms can be controlled. However, exercise-induced asthma can lead to emergency room visits and possible hospitalization if attacks become severe enough. Asthma can also cause permanent narrowing of the airways. This can make breathing difficult at all times.
Anesthesia and Exercise-Induced Asthma
For adults and children with well-controlled asthma -- caused by exercise or allergens -- the risks of anesthesia are similar to those without asthma. Individuals with poorly controlled asthma are at higher risk for complications. Prior to surgery, talk to your doctor about any asthma related concerns. Breathing tests can be ordered to ensure your safety. On the day of your surgery, you will meet with an anesthesiologist who will discuss your medical history and anesthesia options. If your doctor and anesthesiologist feel your body is not strong enough -- due to asthma -- to undergo general anesthesia, there are other options. Local and regional anesthesia can often be used. These types of anesthesia block the nerves to the surgical site. Local and regional anesthesia can often be combined with IV sedation to calm you.
Risks of Anesthesia
Risks of anesthesia largely depend on your age, overall health and the type of anesthesia used. General anesthesia can cause damage to teeth, sore throat, changes in blood pressure and irritation to the larynx. Heart attack, stroke and death related to general anesthesia are rare. Local and regional anesthesia can cause nerve pain, numbness or weakness. Swelling, infection and bruising at the injection site may also occur.
