What you need to know about exercise-induced asthma

If you're one of those people who don't have chronic asthma but you've experienced symptoms of it during exercise or any physical activity, you may be suffering from exercise-induced asthma. Here's what you need to know about this condition.

Exercise-induced asthma, otherwise known as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, occurs when the airways constrict as a result of physical exertion.

• The common misconception with this condition is that exercise causes asthma. It does not; it simply triggers an asthma attack.

Aerobic exercise, a prolonged physical activity that demands mouth breathing to complement nasal breathing, induces this condition.

• Air drawn from the mouth is usually drier and colder than air drawn from the nose because it did not go through the nasal passages, which warm, clean, and humidify inhaled air.
• The change in temperature causes increased blood flow to the airways, which in turn causes the airway to swell and secrete mucus, partially blocking the flow of air.
• If left untreated, inflammation of the airways may occur and it could lead to chronic asthma.

If you suffer from exercise-induced asthma, you will experience symptoms like shortness of breath, tightening of the chest, coughing, wheezing and fatigue. These symptoms will usually occur 5-20 minutes after the exercise commences or 5-10 minutes after brief physical activity.

Misdiagnosis is a common problem with this condition because it does not have symptoms that are unique to it.

• There is, however, the exercise-induced asthma testing, which features a series of tests to ensure the proper diagnosis of this condition.
• This testing includes the spirometry test to check normal lung function, exercise challenge tests and alternate challenge test.
• Your physician may also ask you to undergo other diagnostic tests to rule out other medical conditions that causes more or less the same symptoms.

To prevent the recurrence of exercise-induced asthma, you need to take prescribed medication before exercise.

• In addition, you need to do some warm-ups before getting started with more rigorous exercise.
• It's also best to exercise indoors if it's cold or if there are potential allergens outside.

Having exercise-induced asthma does not mean that you should not avoid exercise altogether. Prognosis for exercise-induced asthma is usually very good if the condition is diagnosed immediately and you adhere to treatments and program that your physician prescribes.

Be sure to ask your physician to suggest appropriate exercises for your condition.