Have you ever found yourself unusually short of breath after a run or a game of football? There are several possible causes, but it could be because you have exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, also known as exercise-induced asthma.
Have you ever found yourself unusually short of breath after a run or a game of football? There are several possible causes, but it could be because you have exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, also known as exercise-induced asthma.
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction or exercise-induced asthma is a narrowing of the airways in your lungs that’s brought on by exercise.
Symptoms usually come on during or just after exercise and include:
When you exercise, you tend to breathe faster, and breathe through your mouth more. This means that when air reaches your lungs, it’s colder and drier than it would be if it had been filtered through your nose. In some people, the lungs react to this cold, dry air by narrowing their airways – which leads to asthma symptoms.
When you’re exercising, certain environmental conditions can worsen exercise-induced bronchoconstriction or exercise-induced asthma, depending on other asthma triggers you may have. These include:
As people who get exercise-induced bronchoconstriction or exercise-induced asthma usually have asthma, the best way of helping to avoid it is making sure you’re managing your asthma. It’s very important to have a personal action plan, which can be organised with your doctor.
Steps you can take include:
It’s still important to exercise if you have asthma, and working out your triggers for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction or exercise-induced asthma can help you to plan around it. If cold weather is a trigger, you could try:
If you’re getting the symptoms of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction or exercise-induced asthma, you should see your doctor. They may want to do some tests to see if you have asthma, or improve your asthma management.
is a serious condition, so if you’re at all concerned, you should speak to your doctor.Call for emergency medical help if you think you are having an
and:If you have an inhaler (usually blue), take one puff of your inhaler every 30-60 seconds, up to a maximum of 10 puffs. Do this every 15 minutes until medical help arrives.
While waiting for help, sit upright (do not lie down) and try to take slow, steady breaths. Try to remain calm, as panicking will make things worse.
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.