Exercise-Induced Asthma

What is exercise-induced asthma?

Asthma is a lung condition that causes wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Exercise-induced asthma is a form of asthma that some people have during or after physical activity.

How does it occur?

In a person with asthma, the small airways of the lungs go into spasm or constrict. In exercise-induced asthma, this can occur:

• during or after physical activity and when breathing is hard, heavy, or fast
• when the air is cold
• when the humidity is very low or high
• when there is a lot of air pollution
• when there are a lot of allergens in the air

For many people, winter sports such as cross-country skiing or bicycling in the cold air may cause symptoms.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of exercise-induced asthma include:

• wheezing
• coughing
• shortness of breath
• chest tightness
• fatigue

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about breathing problems during or after exercise. He or she may ask you to run on a treadmill or to exercise outside the office. When you return, your provider will check to see if you are wheezing after the exercise.

You may do special breathing tests before and after exercise. These tests measure how fast you can exhale air in one breath.

How is it treated?

Exercise-induced asthma is treated with medicine. Usually you will use an inhaled bronchodilator such as albuterol and pirbuterol. Your healthcare provider will instruct you how to use the medicine. Usually, you will take 2 puffs of this medicine about 15 to 30 minutes before your activity. Your provider may tell you to use this medicine during your activity if you get symptoms.

Another medicine may be prescribed to help prevent wheezing. This medicine will not help after you have started wheezing. Other medicines that may help are inhaled corticosteroids and oral leukotriene receptor antagonists.

How can I take care of myself?

Know what triggers your asthma. Some people have most symptoms when they are active in cold, dry air. During the winter you may need to exercise indoors, or wear a mask when you exercise outside. Wearing a mask warms the air before you inhale it. Breathing through your nose warms the air more than mouth breathing and may help prevent exercised-induced asthma. You may also need to be aware of triggers such as air pollution, dust, or pollen.

Doing warm-up exercises before a workout may help prevent an asthma attack.

Many people, including successful athletes, have exercise-induced asthma. You can stay healthy and fit with proper education and use of medicine.