Exercise-Induced Asthma: Trigger, Facts, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention

“Those who love to live will find their ways to life. Similarly, those who love to stay fit will find their ways to fitness!” There are many problems each one of us faces every single day. “There is no life without problem.” Being human, we are that capable finding out the perfect solutions to each of the problem. Similarly there is always an appropriate treatment for every disease or ill health condition. Coming to asthma, the one who suffers from the asthma attack do understand his life, his issues while breathing and accordingly finds out the best possible treatment available for self. Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is one of the types of asthma which is caused by exercise or where exercise is the trigger causing asthma. Currently there are around 13% of the U.S population suffering from exercise-induced asthma including the star athletes or sportsmen. In the current article, we will be focusing on this particular type of asthma caused by the common trigger of exercise. We will discuss about the symptoms and a general overview on the exercise-induced asthma and also make a fine note on some famous athletes and sportsperson with asthma and the fitness guide of athletes for exercise induced asthma where we will be highlighting the most important preventive measures, the special tips and treatment modes for such type of asthma.

A chronic inflammation of bronchi of the lungs caused by some external triggers or unfavorable conditions which results in sudden attacks or certain troublesome periods of mild or serious or no symptoms; is called as Asthma. Here the triggers may be either contaminants present in air including smoke, pollution, dust etc, or maybe the flu or cold viruses causing respiratory infections, or even the allergens like molds, pollen grains, or animal danders etc. Apart from all these, the environmental conditions like humidity and temperature along with the emotional stress also cause asthma. To a clear note, Exercise is also a trigger that causes asthma in people doing exercises including the athletes. It is studied that people with asthma who do not get any attack or face any bothersome symptoms with any other asthma trigger other than Exercise, are categorized under the special group of asthma called Exercise-induced asthma.

• Exercise-induced asthma is caused due to exercise or during excessive strenuous activity.
• People with exercise-induced asthma are more sensitive to temperature and humidity in air.
• It is believed that exercise-induced asthma is common in almost all patients with chronic asthma.
• It is usually found that patient with exercise-induced asthma meets with the symptoms of asthma only during the time of exercises.
• It must be known that almost all the athletes suffer from exercise induced asthma (EIA) or some kind of exercise induced asthma symptoms. There are many known athletes or sportsmen who meet with exercise induced asthma, yet who have never restricted their goals of being in sports.
• Exercise induced asthma (EIA) is caused primarily due to loss of water and heat from the lungs while exercising when the dry & cold air passes inside and that causes the asthma attack. The whole concept is, while a person is in rest, he inhales outside air via nose and that is known to be warmer and help in purifying the air. However during inhalation via mouth, the air entering inside is less warmer which might cause problems in breathing or the asthma attack.
• During exercising span one usually breathes through mouth, which results in increased ventilation of dry & cold air leading to loss of heat, water or both from the lungs. This change in temperature & humidity triggers the symptoms of asthma or the exercise-induced asthma in the patient with exercise induced asthma or EIA, while performing physical activities.
• It must be made clear that apart from exercise-induced asthma, there is another group of people suffering from exercise-induced bronchospasm.
• Though it is very much essential for asthma patient to follow chronic maintenance medications regularly so as to keep the symptoms controlled, asthma cannot be cured. However, patient who suffer solely from exercise-induced asthma are lucky enough to keep their asthma symptoms prevented from occurring by taking prescribed medicines before exercise or any sports.
• With the relevant medications every exercise induced asthma (EIA) patient can lead a happy and normal life physically and mentally.

It is noted that the symptoms which a patient with exercise induced asthma (EIA) meets with, are pretty similar to the symptoms of chronic asthma. Usually the symptoms in Exercise-induced asthma begin after few minutes of exercise or any strenuous activity which continues for about 10 to 15 minutes. Let us look below for some of the noted symptoms.

• Shortness of breath
• Tightening in chest
• Unusual fatigue while physical activity.
• Wheezing or coughing
• A reduced level of usual performance in usual activities.

The following array of our article will have some crucial discussion on how to prevent and treat Exercise-induced asthma. So, let us have a special focus light on the real sportsmen’s guide to exercise induced asthma or EIA, which can help patient with exercise-induced asthma or any symptoms of EIA attack.

As a matter of fact, “Exercise induced asthma (EIA) should not stop you living without activities!” So one must be well aware of the necessary precaution and available treatments for reducing or controlling the symptoms of exercise induced asthma. Look below for the special treatment available for exercise induced asthma (EIA) and make a thorough read on some of the essential tips for preventing Exercise-induced asthma.

• In order to treat or reduce the symptoms of exercise induced asthma via medication; one must use an inhaler or a beta-agonist bronchodilator containing effective drugs like salbutamol or terbutaline. It is found that their effects are long lasting and can last up to 6 hours after an attack of exercise induced asthma (EIA).
• These inhalers or bronchodilators are also used as preventive measure for exercise induced asthma or EIA where one can use the inhaler before any strenuous activity.
• One of the most crucial precaution a person can take so as to prevent the symptoms in exercise induced asthma or EIA is inhale Cromolyn sodium like Intal, telad etc 25 minutes before exercise or physical activity.
• As a natural preventive measure for exercise induced asthma or EIA, a 15 minutes of proper warm-up can help prevent the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma
• It must be kept in mind in case there is a chill whether, one must keep mouth & nose covered and warm the air or shift to indoor with proper ventilated, humidified and warm air.

There is a belief, “Iron cuts iron!” Exercise induced asthma is also believed to be reduced or prevented by exercises. Look below for some of the noted exercises one can go for in case he/she is suffering from exercise induced asthma or EIA.

• Yoga is the most crucial form of exercise from a traditional healing science taking its wider form in the current world. This can be used as a wonderful source to reduce the symptoms of asthma and facilitating proper breathing. 
• Yoga keeps a body relaxed and thus helpful in asthma condition.
• It is also believed that swimming can be an effective activity done to reduce the symptoms of asthma as there are less chances of exercise induced asthma or EIA in the warm humid air inside the swimming pool. However, as it is also to be noted that the cold water or the pools containing chlorine in it can be a warning trigger to asthma.
• One of the finest facts about exercise induced asthma or EIA is, “More the exercise, less the asthma”. Coming straight on this, exercise induced asthma patients must keep in mind, that your overall health, weight and fitness play a crucial role in lessening down or increasing the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma. It means, if you are able to manage a proper fit and fine body, be in absolute shape, then you have a reduced chance of encountering severe symptoms of exercise induced asthma or EIA. So do regular exercise to keep yourself fit, but make sure you are carrying your inhaler along with you.

“They are the star heroes because they have not allowed their weakness be a barrier in their strength!” There are a number of famous athletes who have asthma, who meet with exercise induced asthma (EIA) even during their sports activity, but who have made a strict note on not letting the asthmatic condition ruin their performance, ruin their sports or ruin their life. “These are actually the real men of honor! They suffer, they struggle, they perform and they win!”

The following array of our content will highlight some of such star athletes who have asthma, who suffer from the symptoms of chronic asthma but who have made their name come in the shining stars of the world of sports.

There are around 26 million Americans who suffer from asthma. Out of them, there are some of the most known athletes who have been diagnosed with asthma, but their condition did not bring breaking news on their star career breakup.

It is studied that most athletes who are indulged with water or cold sports activity like swimming, skating, skiers etc are more prone to Exercise-induced asthma. However it is also noted that runners, or athletes with a long period of exertion in sports have triggered with asthma symptoms or attacks. Jackey Joyner-Kersee, Tom Dolan, Amy Ven Dyken, Paula Radclief, etc are amongst those shining star athletes who have asthma but have never brought a backward step from the field of sports. They have understood the importance of being fit, being with life and thus they have respected their asthma symptoms, taken serious notes on fighting against asthma, be with appropriate treatment and follow the necessary precaution so as to come out as the real winner fighting from the attack, bothersome breathing issues & other symptoms of asthma.

Here below are some of the F.A.Qs we have tried to display here for our visitors who like to know about Exercise induced asthma.

As discussed in the article, in case it is an exercise induced asthma or EIA symptoms, it will exist only during the time of exercise. As the fact, exercise is the only trigger for exercise induced asthma. However, if you are meeting with the asthma symptoms from any other trigger, like pollen, mold, dust etc; then it is possibly chronic asthma.

You can also look for if the symptoms exist even after using inhaler or bronchodilator. It is like in case of chronic asthma, the symptoms might persist even after taking a beta-agonist.

In case of normal breathing or inhalation during rest; a person inhales air through nose which assists in warming up and humidifying the air. However in case of exercise, the person inhales via mouth. As a result of this, there is an increased ventilation of cold and dry air. The muscle bands present in the airways of lungs are more sensitive to any change in temperature or humidity in patients with exercise-induced asthma. Thus, this results in narrowing of airways during exercise; leading to the asthma symptoms.

Please keep a strong assured note that you are not to avoid your fitness move because of exercise induced asthma or EIA. The star athletes like Tom Donal, Amy ven Dyken, Jackey-Joyner etc are finest examples. You must keep a strong aim to fight against exercise induced asthma or EIA and keep yourself fit by health.

There are some important ways you can diagnose children with exercise induced asthma or EIA. Look below for some of the ways to find out if your child is suffering from exercise-induced asthma.

• They suffer from tiresomeness in minor physical activities.
• They cannot run as fast as their friends or other children of their age.
• They have an overall low interest towards sports and any of the physical activities.

It must be kept in mind, in case there is any such issue in your children then be sure to contact a good child specialist and follow the necessary diagnosis and treatments. Remember, treatment can surely aid your child remain active and be prompt for living a normal life.

“Not all patients are sufferers! Fight against asthma, win your life!”

Also Read:

• Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction: Causes of Coughing After Running & Ways to Get Rid of it
• Exercise Induced Heartburn: What Causes Heartburn When Working Out & How to Prevent it?