Exercise-Induced Asthma (cont.)

Exercise-Induced Asthma Causes

Asthma has 2 components: the underlying chronic inflammation and the periodic attacks. We do not know for certain what causes the underlying inflammation. What we do know is that the tendency to have asthma runs in families and that some people are born with the tendency to have asthma.

We do know what causes asthma attacks -exposure to a trigger. In exercise-induced asthma, that trigger is mouth breathing during exercise. The attack is similar in many ways to an allergic reaction.

• An allergic reaction is a response by the body's immune system to an "invader." That invader can be a substance or anything that the body senses as "different."
  
  
• When the cells of the immune system sense an invader, they set off a series of reactions that help fight off the invader.
  
  
• It is this series of reactions that causes the production of mucus and bronchospasms. These responses cause the symptoms of as asthma attack.
  
  
• Because asthma is a type of allergic reaction, it is sometimes called reactive airway disease. 

Sports and games that require continuous activity or are played in cold weather are most likely to trigger an asthma attack.

• Long-distance running
  
  
• Basketball
  
  
• Soccer
  
  
• Hockey (ice and field)
  
  
• Cross-country skiing 

Sports that are less likely to trigger an asthma attack are those that require short bursts of activity interspersed with breaks.

• Walking
  
  
• Recreational biking (not racing)
  
  
• Hiking
  
  
• Swimming
  
  
• Short-distance running and track/field events
  
  
• Baseball or softball
  
  
• Golfing
  
  
• Football
  
  
• Volleyball
  
  
• Wrestling
  
  
• Gymnastics
  
  
• Downhill skiing

Next: Exercise-Induced Asthma Symptoms »

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