Exercise-Induced Asthma Overview

Asthma is a respiratory disease with symptoms that are caused by inflammation and narrowing of the lung’s airways. Typical symptoms are wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, a feeling of tightness in the chest and reduced capacity for exercise or vigorous physical activity. About 300 million people worldwide have asthma, and its prevalence is increasing.

The inflammation that causes airways to narrow and causes asthma symptoms can be triggered by many things—for example, by environmental substances such as animal dander or air pollutants or by physical events such as exercise (exercise-induced asthma ).

The triggering events in exercise-induced asthma are believed to be rapid breathing and airway cooling associated with vigorous exercise. Sports most likely to trigger exercise-induced asthma are those involving vigorous and continuous play (for example, basketball, long-distance running, competitive tennis), and those played in cold, dry air (for example, cross-country skiing).

Exercise-induced asthma can occur in almost anyone, but it is most common in people—especially children—who already have persistent asthma associated with exposure to allergens such as animal dander, dust mites and molds.

Anyone who experiences asthma symptoms after exercise or vigorous physical activity should consult a physician. Tests performed under the physician’s supervision can tell if asthma is exercise-induced. Once identified, exercise-induced asthma can be treated to prevent asthma symptoms after exercise.