What is asthma | Is it asthma? | Asthma triggers | Managing triggers and allergens | What is asthma control | Allergen control products | Exercise-induced asthma

 

Some people have exercise-induced asthma. This is a form of asthma that typically occurs when a person is doing exercise. Typically the person feels a tightness in their chest or experiences a cough. This type of asthma can be relieved with the use of a bronchodilator.

 

The diagram at the left shows what can happen when a person with exercise-induced asthma does physical activity. Exercise-induced bronchospasm usually starts during exercise and peaks within ten minutes of exercise cessation. It appears to be related to the cooling and drying in the lungs from increased breathing during exercise. Symptoms may resolve spontaneously after 20 to 30 minutes.

 

Most people with asthma have trouble with exercise-induced bronchospasm, and for some, the only trigger is exercise. Children often have trouble with EIB because they are so active.

 

There are several measures to take to limit the effect of EIB on a patient’s normal functioning:

* 2-4 puffs of a bronchodilator 15-20 minutes before exercise - Normally lasts up to four hours.

* Cromolyn (Intal) or nedocromil (Tilade) taken 30 minutes before exercise - Generally lasts 1-2 hours.

* Warm up and cool down - Good for both for the muscles and for the airways - It lets the airways gradually get used to increased or decreased exercise

 

For EIB in a school age child, it is also very important to talk to the child’s teachers and coaches, to be sure that they understand how to maximize the child’s ability to exercise without provoking an acute episode.