Exercise is a common cause of asthma symptoms. This is usually called exercise-induced asthma (EIA) or exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB). It is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of all individuals who have allergic asthma will experience symptoms of EIA with vigorous exercise or activity. For teenagers and young adults this is often the most common cause of asthma symptoms. Fortunately with better medications, monitoring, and management you can participate in physical activity and sports and achieve your highest performance level.
Exercise-induced asthma is often treated with the same medications used for a standard asthma diagnosis. The most common medications prescribed for EIA include short-acting inhaled bronchodilators that are used prior to exercise in order to relax and open up the airway. Other medications your doctor may prescribe include longer acting bronchodilators, mast cell stabilizers, and leukotriene modifiers.
To manage exercise-induced asthma, it's important to know what triggers your asthma symptoms. For example, if your symptoms occur most often during strenuous activity in cold, dry air, you may need to exercise indoors during the winter or wear a scarf or face mask when you exercise outside. Other things you may need to do include adjusting your routine during high pollution and high allergen days, or stop exercising when you feel tired, or have a cold or other illness.
If, despite medication, your child still has breathing trouble during exercise, see your child's doctor. Your child's medication dosages may need to be adjusted for better control. Also, let your child's doctor know of any changes in your child's breathing trouble.
Asthma inhalers or bronchodilators used prior to exercise can control and prevent exercise-induced asthma symptoms. The preferred asthma medications are short-acting beta-2 agonists such as albuterol. Taken 15-20 minutes before exercise, these medications can prevent the airways from contracting and control exercise-induced asthma for as long as 4-6 hours.
Monitor your asthma while you exercise by watching for asthma symptoms. The peak flow meter can also be useful in monitoring your asthma. A peak flow meter is a portable, hand-held device that measures how fast you blow air out. When the airways are narrowed by asthma, the peak flow number will drop. A significant drop in your peak flow number and/or asthma symptoms is a signal that you need extra medicine or maybe a short rest during exercise. Ask your healthcare provider about a written Asthma Action Plan. It will help you know what to do if you are getting worse while you exercise.
Exercise-induced asthma is monitored using a peak-flow meter. This hand-held device measures air flow (how fast air is blown out of the lungs). Patients can use peak-flow meters to measure their own air flow regularly. This allows patients to obtain a much earlier indication of an oncoming attack.
During normal breathing, inhaled air is first warmed and moistened by the nasal passages. During exercise, people tend to breathe through the mouth, resulting in the inhalation of colder and drier air. In exercise-induced asthma, the muscle bands around the airways are sensitive to these changes in temperature and humidity and react by contracting, or spasming. The narrowed airway leads to coughing, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and unusual fatigue during exercise, and shortness of breath. Symptoms may be exacerbated by pollens and pollutants in the air and by upper-respiratory infections.
