What is exercised induced asthma?
I heard a little about it. Is it when people with asthma have trouble breathing while exercising?
I heard a little about it. Is it when people with asthma have trouble breathing while exercising?
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Exercise-induced asthma is a bit different from "regular" asthma. In regular asthma, the immune system attacks the airways and they get inflamed. That inflammation increases mucus production and irritates the smooth muscles so they constrict. The end result is tight airways that are difficult to move air through.
The fast deep breathing you do during exercise can strip humidity from the upper airway faster than it can supply it. As a result, dry gas gets down to the lungs. The airways HATE dry air. In people with EIA, their airways respond to that irritation. The smooth muscles constrict -- just like in asthma.
The treatment is very straightforward: A short-acting bronchodilator 15 minutes before exercise. That prevents the smooth muscles from constricting.
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