Exercise Induced-Asthma

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs. When you have asthma, three things occur: 

• Inflammation.
• Production of mucus
• Muscles contract

What are the signs and symptoms of Asthma?

• Chest tightness
• Breathlessness/Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Persistent coughing

Exercise and Asthma

• If you cough, wheeze or feel out of breath during or after exercise, it may be more than exertion causing your symptoms. You might have exercise-induced asthma. As with asthma triggered by other things, exercise-induced asthma symptoms occur when your airways tighten and produce extra mucus.
• If you have exercise-induced asthma — also called exercise-induced bronchospasm (BRONG-ko-spaz-um) — physical exertion may be the only thing that triggers your symptoms. Or, exercise may be just one of several things that trigger your asthma.
• Having exercise-induced asthma doesn't mean you shouldn't exercise. Proper treatment and precautions can keep you active.

Additional information on Exercise-Induced Asthma