Exercise-Induced Asthma

Many individuals who have asthma find that it is triggered by vigorous or prolonged exercise, such as running. This type of asthma is referred to as exercise-induced asthma. For some individuals, this is the primary or only trigger for their asthma. They may not experience asthma under any other circumstances. However, for most people who suffer from chronic asthma, physical exertion is a common trigger for their symptoms.

Generally, people with exercise-induced asthma will start to experience symptoms within a few minutes after they begin to exercise. Some individuals don't have symptoms until a few minutes after they have stopped exercising.

Typically, as we inhale air our nasal passages moisten and warm it before it enters our lungs. However, when we exercise vigorously or for a lengthy period we usually breathe through our mouth so the air reaches our lungs much more quickly. As a result, the air tends to be drier and colder than if it had been breathed through the nose.

For an individual with asthma, the bronchial passages are particularly sensitive to this cold, dry air and the surrounding muscles start to tighten. When these muscles tighten it is called a bronchospasm. Also, an excess amount of mucus is produced which lines the airways. In turn, breathing starts to become difficult because the passages are now constricted and partially blocked. Less air is able to pass through to and from the lungs.

The symptoms an individual will start to experience in exercise-induced asthma include the typical coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and pressure or tightening of the chest. He may also feel unusually tired while trying to exercise.

Since regular exercise is essential to optimal health and well-being, it is important to know that if you have exercise-induced asthma you can usually continue exercising regularly by taking appropriate precautions and following treatment as prescribed by your doctor. Often a short-acting medication such as Albuterol is prescribed to be used several minutes before exercising.

Long-acting medications may also be prescribed to help reduce the likeliness of asthma symptoms being triggered by exercise. Your doctor may also recommend that you not exercise outdoors on extremely cold days, or limit your exercise if you are sick. Adequately warming up and cooling down before and after exercising can also help offset the occurrence of asthma symptoms during exercise.