Exercise-induced asthma, also known as an exercise-induced bronchospasm, is a condition that is triggered anytime your body experiences physical exertion, leading to symptoms similar to a traditional asthma attack. These symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, occur as the body both creates excess mucous and tightens your airways. If you believe you have exercise-induced asthma, get a diagnosis from your doctor so that you can start a treatment program that will allow you to exercise without producing symptoms.
Exercise Testing
Most tests used to diagnose this form of asthma need to be performed with exercise to determine if you have general asthma or exercise-induced asthma. An exercise challenge test is typically done on a treadmill or other stationary form of aerobic exercise equipment in six- to eight-minute intervals. Lung tests are done before and after the test using a variety of devices, ranging from spirometers to peak-flow monitors to see how much the exercise affects your lung function.
Spirometry
Spirometry is one of the main tests for diagnosing general asthma but can also be used to test for exercise-induced asthma. In this test, you exhale as fast as you can into a tube that is connected to a device called a spirometer. Like a peak-flow test, spirometry measures how well you lungs are able to exhale. Poor results after or during exercise can signal problems with asthma. The doctor may have you inhale a bronchodilator drug and retry the test. If the test scores improve, it's a sign that you may have exercise-induced asthma.
Peak-flow Test
The peak-flow test measures your peak expiratory flow rate. This means that it calculates how fast you can exhale air. The test is given using a peak expiratory flow monitor, which is connected to a mouth piece. You take a deep breath and place the mouthpiece in your mouth, after which you exhale as fast and as hard as possible. From this test, your doctor can determine how well your lungs are working based on how fast you can exhale. This test may be given during or directly after exercise to test for exercise-induced asthma.
Nitric Oxide Test
A nitric oxide tests uses standardized nitric oxide analyzer equipment to measure how much nitric oxide you exhale each time you breathe out. To perform this test, breathe into a tube that is attached to the analyzer. The equipment then calculates how much nitric oxide is in your breath. Higher levels of nitric oxide can indicate that you have asthma, which in turn could be connected with asthma symptoms while exercising.
