A fair amount of exertion is normal when performing any physical activity that challenges your body. Exertion accompanied by breathlessness, wheezing or coughing may be a sign of something potentially more serious. According to the MayoClinic.com, exercise can trigger a condition known as exercise-induced bronchospasm, or exercise-induced asthma. The condition is most common among children and young adults.
Symptoms
Symptoms of asthma are wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Exercise-induced asthma's symptoms are the same but also include fatigue during exercise and poor athletic performance. You may experience symptoms 10 to 15 minutes after you begin working out, as well as during and after your workout.
Triggers
Triggers for exercise-induced asthma include cold and dry air, pollen, herbicides, fertilizers, paint, chlorine, smoke, smog, respiratory infections or being overweight and out of shape. Exercises that make you breathe hard, such as jogging or playing basketball, can also trigger asthma symptoms.
Risk Factors
You're at a higher risk for exercise-induced asthma if you already have asthma that is triggered by other factors. Allergy or hay fever sufferers are also at a greater risk. You have higher risk of exercise-induced asthma if you have a blood relative who is asthmatic. Continued exposure to secondhand smoke and chemicals increases your risk, as does living in areas that have higher concentrations of air pollution. Being obese also increases your risk.
Medical Help
See your doctor if you experience shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, wheezing or coughing during or after you work out. Get medical treatment immediately if your symptoms rapidly worsen, you continue to be out of breath long after your workout or your symptoms persist even after using an inhaler.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your doctor will do a series of lung function tests to determine if you have asthma. These tests will measure how well you breathe, your lung functioning and how exertion affects your lung function. You will also be tested to see if there are other factors that trigger your symptoms. Treatment for exercise-induced asthma includes medications such as quick-relief inhalers you use before your workouts, or long-term medications such as inhaled corticosteriods, leukotriene modifiers or theophylline for symptoms that persist when you are not exercising or symptoms that quick-relief medications do not remedy.
Reducing Recurrences
Exercise is beneficial even if you have exercise-induced asthma because it improves lung function. You can simply modify your current routine or choose activities that challenge the body without making you breathe hard, like moderate walking, golfing, tennis or weightlifting. Run indoors on a track when it's cold outside. Do proper warm-ups and cool-downs. Don't workout when you have a cold, and do what you can to avoid catching colds. Breathe through your nose instead of your mouth when exercising. If you must work out in cold weather, cover your mouth and nose.
