Asthma, Exercise-Induced
Asthma, Exercise-Induced Causes
The exact cause of exercise-induced asthma is currently not known; however, certain factors trigger the symptoms in susceptible individuals. These factors include: drying or cooling of the airways during heavy breathing, cold weather or dry air, high pollen counts, air pollution, recent respiratory infection, being out of shape, plus exposure to certain chemicals such as herbicides, fertilizers, pain, or chlorine. Alternatively, it is also believed that exercise-induced asthma is really just regular asthma, with exercise as the primary trigger for attacks.
Asthma, Exercise-Induced Definition
Asthma, exercise-induced (exercise-induced asthma) pertains to coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath during exercise or any vigorous physical activity. As with most other types of asthma, exercise-induced asthma results from the inflammation of the bronchial tubes of the lungs.
Asthma, Exercise-Induced Diagnosis
A physical examination plus the patient's clinical symptoms and medical history are usually the basis for diagnosing exercise-induced asthma. Some diagnostic steps to determine exercise-induced asthma are: performing lung-function tests and conducting an exercise challenge to see how physical exertion affects the lungs.
Asthma, Exercise-Induced Symptoms and Signs
Symptoms of exercise-induced asthma may range from minor wheezing to severely troubled breathing during or after any form of exercise. Common symptoms, such as coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath, typically start within 5-15 minutes after exercise. Other symptoms of exercise-induced asthma include: poor athletic performance, fatigue during exercise, and long recovery time following an exercise.
Asthma, Exercise-Induced Treatment
Exercise-induced asthma can be treated with the same medications used for treating regular asthma. Depending on the severity and/or frequency of attacks, physicians may prescribe: short-acting bronchodilators, mast cell stabilizers, long-acting beta-2 agonist or LABA, leukotriene modifiers, or corticosteroid inhalers.