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Most sufferers of asthma have numerous triggers, whether they be allergens or physical activity. Sufferers of exercise induced asthma, however, only experience symptoms when they exercise. This condition is not dangerous but does cause the sufferer discomfort when they attempt physical activity. With proper treatment, this condition does not stop a person from engaging in physical activities like sports or running. Still, many people with exercise induced asthma will refrain from physical activity.

Asthma, as you may already know, is a condition in which the airways become constricted and the individual is unable to breathe properly. Other forms of asthma are triggered by certain allergens or environments as well as exercise. Exercise induced asthma, on the other hand, only occurs during or after exercise. Symptoms are especially likely to occur in cold and dry environments.

Though the exact cause is yet unknown, studies have suggested that it has something to do with the air not being properly warmed as it enters the lungs when a person breathes quickly and heavily. As this cooler air enters the airways, the bronchial tubes begin to swell and contract. This gives the individual a sensation similar to breathing through a straw. They are just not able to get enough air, especially considering the rigorous activity they are doing. Thus, during an exercise induced asthma attack, the sufferer will feel chest pain and even dizziness because they are gasping for oxygen.

Other symptoms of exercise induced asthma include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, or extreme fatigue during exercise. In rare cases, an individual could experience exercise induced anaphylaxis, a potentially life threatening allergic reaction. If a person experiences this type of reaction, they should seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms of exercise induced anaphylaxis include extreme itchiness on the face, feeling anxious, heart palpitations, slurred speech, swelling of the throat, rapid or weak pulse, red or swelling skin, hives, swelling of the lips, eyelids, throat and tongue, cramps, or diarrhea.

Proper diagnosis of exercise induced asthma requires a number of tests by a pulmonologist. These include a pulmonary function test, bronchoprovocation test, and/or a chest x-ray. There are other tests available as well, but these are among the most common. A pulmonary function test measures how much the lungs can hold and how quickly it is exhaled. A bronchoprovocation test, on the other hand, actually induces a minor asthma attack with the use of medication. A chest x-ray can also be used to rule out any other conditions that might mirror asthma symptoms.

Exercise induced asthma, though it might seem as if it would inhibit a person’s ability to exercise, is actually very treatable. It has actually been shown that the ratio of Olympic athletes who have exercise induced asthma is greater than that of the rest of the population. These athletes manage their symptoms through the use of medication, usually in the form of inhalers, and often they choose sports that are more “compatible” with their condition. Swimming, for example, is an easier sport for people with exercise induced asthma than long distance running is. People who suffer from this condition should keep in mind that, with proper treatment, there is nothing they can’t do that an average person could.

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