Sports Induced Asthma
Asthma caused by physical activity is referred to as sport induced or exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Asthma involves the constriction and inflammation of the airways of the respiratory system. The airways can spasm or constrict when induced by physical activity or other factors.
Exercise-induced asthma is typically manifested when the patients are engaged in physical activity. The disease is more common in cold and dry weather. Air pollution or the high presence of materials causing allergy in the air like pollen can also trigger asthma. People with poor health and respiratory infections are more prone to the disease.
Symptoms of Sports Induced Asthma
EIA may exhibit different symptopms in different people. Usual symptoms include wheezing, coughing, difficulty in breathing, chest tightness, fatigue, and decreased athletic performance. In most cases the patients experience the symptoms 5 to 10 minutes after they begin exercise or other intense physical activity. Symptoms reach the maximum peak 5 to 10 minutes after the person stops exercising. Usually the symptoms go away within an hour. It may prolong in some cases. Also in some other cases symptoms manifest after exercise is finished. Cold weather can aggravate EIA.
People with EIA often take an hour to resume the normal mode of breathing after the exercise is finished. This is a clear indicator to distinguish between EIA and normal fatigue.
How to Cure Sports Induced Asthma?
With proper medication it is possible to rein in EIA. Care should be taken to take medication under the prescription of a doctor. It may not cure the disease completely, but will restrict the symptoms to certain extent making participation in sports possible. It should be noted here that exercise is often recommended by doctors these days in the treatment of asthma as it can boost the lung function by strengthening the muscles in the chest.
EIA patients can manage sports like walking, jogging, golf, baseball, gymnastics, and shorter track and field events. However endurance sports, like long-distance running and cycling, and sports like soccer and basketball may be risky. Sports like cross-country skiing and ice hockey which are played in cold weather are most challenging for EIA patients.
Tips to Deal with Sports Induced Asthma
The following measures can be taken by EIA patients to handle the disease more skillfully:
- Mandatory warming up prior to the exercise to ease chest muscles
- Taking medication just before exercising
- Breathing through nose during exercise
- Short periods of rest during exercise
- Prescribed rescue medication in case the symptoms manifest
- Cooling down after exercise
- No exercise outdoors in cold weather
- Avoid outdoor exercise when air pollution is high
- Prefer indoor exercise when pollen count is high in the air
- Avoid exercising when one is ill
- Avoid exercising if asthma symptoms are manifested.
People with EIA are not required to confine themselves in their rooms. Participation in sports is now within the reach of EIA patients if proper attention is paid to medication and other precautionary measures.