exercise induced asthma
Last reviewed 01/2018
Some patients may experience asthma which is induced by exercise, and may have few or no symptoms at other times.
Exercise-induced asthma is asthma brought on by physical exertion. For most patients physical activity is an important precipitant and in children it may be the only significant precipitant (1,2).
- typical asthma symptoms (in some instances a troublesome cough) is seen in patients which resolves spontaneously within 30-45 minutes
- symptoms rarely occurs during exercise and typically develop within 5-10 minutes after completing exercise
- some forms of exercise such as running are more potent triggers while swimming is the least likely exercise to provoke exercise-induced asthma (2)
- may occur at any climatic condition - but is more likely to develop when patients are breathing dry, cold air (less common in hot, humid conditions) (1)
Diagnosis can be achieved by observing a rapid improvement
- of post exertion symptoms after inhaled beta2 agonist use or
- prevention of symptoms by pretreatment with an inhaled beta 2 agonist before exercise (1)
Exercise induced symptoms may be the only presenting feature in some asthmatic children. In these patients (or in case there is a doubt about the diagnosis) exercise testing can be easily performed to establish a firm diagnosis of asthma (1).
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