Exercise-induced asthma (Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction) is a common type of asthma. Asthma itself is a result of a body’s reaction to a trigger. In the case of exercise-induced asthma, the trigger is most likely exercise (heavy sports or even sex). When we’re out of breath our breathing becomes heavy. During normal circumstances, the air we inhale is warmed up by the nasal passages while travelling all the way to the lungs but during heavy exercise, many breathe through their mouths. This is how the colder air manages to get into our organisms and can potentially cause asthma attacks.

While the organism reacts to the stimulus, the muscle bands around the airways start to react by contracting which narrows the airways.1 Some percentage of people affected also develop mucus in their lungs which then causes breathing problems, tightness in the chest and wheezing.

Even though exercise can trigger the symptoms very quickly they can be reduced or even prevented with a certain medication. Thus, you shouldn’t let it affect your life!

What’s on this page?

What is asthma?

Asthma is a very common inflammatory lung disease affecting over 5 million people in the UK.2 Majority of people with asthma only experience mild symptoms that can be taken under control quite easily. The causes of asthma are still unclear but genetics are believed to play a role in the development of the condition. Proper treatment ensures that the condition doesn’t cause any longterm effects. Thus, it is important to have the correct medication for your condition.

Out of shape or exercise-induced asthma?

It is important to understand the differences between exercise-induced asthma and being out of shape (shortness of breath). Usually, exercise or any physical activity can cause shortness of breath but it passes after the pulse stabilises. Individuals with exercise-induced asthma can experience the symptoms for longer and they are much more severe. Symptoms such as tightness on the chest and wheezing can even proceed to cause an asthma attack. Breathing in cold or dry air can significantly worsen the symptoms. Therefore, exercise during winter can oppose as a risk. Read more about the factors that can cause asthma.

Symptoms

This condition is most prevalent during physical activity but symptoms can occur despite exercise as well. The symptoms are individual but the two of the most common ones are difficulties in breathing and shortness of breath. The narrow airways can cause further problems that include coughing, wheezing and broken breathing.

You might have exercise-induced asthma if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms during or after exercise:

  • Difficulties in breathing
  • Heavy coughing
  • Decreased endurance
  • Tightness on the chest
  • Wheezing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain in the abdomen
  • Dry mouth and throat

How can I prevent the symptoms?

If you suffer from the condition you need to keep an eye on the symptoms in order to prevent them. Take extreme care if you enjoy physical activity. It is preferable to learn to recognise the situations that cause symptoms. In this condition, one could be cold air. Moreover, it is important to remember that everyone will not experience the symptoms at the beginning of a physical activity but during or even after. Thus, the medication is small and light enough to be carried in a pocket and ready to be used when needed.

Don’t let the condition restrict your daily life:

  • Don’t give up exercise but find suitable ways for you
  • Be open to other forms of exercise but keep an eye on the symptoms
  • Remember the positive effect exercising has on relieving the symptoms
  • Remember to take your medication according to your doctor’s orders
  • Talk with your doctor and ask questions

Are you worried that asthma could have an effect on your daily life? Read more of our tips.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis itself is not difficult but you should seek the help of a doctor if you suspect to suffer from this condition. The doctor will perform a set of tests that should indicate if you are suffering from the condition or not.

Exercise-induced asthma test

The doctor can ask you to perform some physical activity in order to know if it is, in fact, exercise-induced asthma that is causing the symptoms. These tests can include running on the treadmill or walking up the stairs. Often times the exercise-induced asthma test is reliable. However, the physical activity needs to be intense enough to trigger any symptoms experienced before. In addition, spirometry tests before and after the challenge can provide further evidence.3

Treatment options

There are many treatment options in order to treat exercise-induced asthma. The symptoms of the condition are often only temporary which means that the condition is often treated with an inhaler. Read more about the different types of asthma medication.

The treatment begins with an inhaler that contains cortisone. The purpose of it is to open up the airways in order to avoid a possible asthma attack. The symptoms of the condition usually appear during physical activity and thus, reliever inhaler is useful when exercising. It will ease acute symptoms. If you want to tackle the symptoms even before exercise as a preventative measure you should consider a preventer inhaler. Moreover, you can take a dosage of the medication around 10-15 minutes before the physical act. The types of medication that open up the airways are safe to use also when symptoms appear as it can sometimes be difficult to estimate the exact situations when symptoms should appear. The medication is effective against the symptoms in less than 30 minutes and will last for many hours.

You should discuss with your doctor before starting to use any medication as the needs can vary between individuals. Some might only need a reliever inhaler that opens up the airways when needed, like Ventolin or Bricanyl whereas others might need something a bit more effective such as preventive inhalers like Pulmicort Turbohaler.

If you are suffering from more severe exercise-induced asthma it is possible to treat it with combination inhalers that contain a combination of long-acting reliever medication. Examples of these are Seretide and Flixotide.

Can I still exercise despite the condition?

It is recommended to exercise despite the condition. According to some studies, the symptoms usually occur after heavy physical activity such as running, skiing or swimming. Moreover, you should remember that regular exercise increases endurance and thus, helps to ease the symptoms. Physical activity helps many who are affected by respiratory problems. In addition, it has a positive effect on mental health as well.

If you are affected by any of the symptoms while exercising you should try to start moderately and increase the intensity gradually. It is important to warm up before and after exercise. Medication such as Ventolin can be used as a preventative measure. You can inhale it 10-15 minutes before you engage in any physical activity if you want to prevent any potential symptoms from occurring later during exercise.

Exercise-induced asthma on children

Asthma is more common in children than it is on adults. Around half of the children affected become symptom-free during their puberty. There are cases when the condition can return, such as adulthood or during pregnancy meaning that the bias towards asthma never disappears. Exercise-induced asthma is often one of the first signs of asthma in children. Physical activity is the biggest trigger of asthma symptoms amongst children and youth. Atopic skin conditions, as well as food allergies, are often linked to increasing the risk of getting asthma. This risk cannot be eliminated but it can be diminished.

In some cases, the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma can be so uncomfortable that the child starts to avoid physical activity. In these instances, the approach should be the opposite and try to encourage the child to exercise as it can alleviate the symptoms. If this doesn’t help, there are medications that can be prescribed by the doctor.

Advice for parents whose child is suffering from the condition

  • Take your child to see a doctor if you think that s/he might be suffering from asthma
  • After the diagnosis, practice the use of inhaler together with your child so that it starts going smoothly
  • Let your child’s P.E. teacher know about exercise-induced asthma and the medication prescribed

Do you want to get to know the other types of asthma? Here are seven other asthma types.

References:

  1. More about the condition – WebMD
  2. Inflammatory lung disease – Asthma UK
  3. About the condition – Mayo Clinic