Asthma and exercise

Exercise and physical activity are vital for keeping fit and healthy, and are an important part of good asthma management. Sometimes, however, exercising can trigger an episode of asthma. This is known as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). It was previously called exercise-induced asthma.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction is thought to affect:

• 18 to 26% of school children
• up to 90% of people with asthma
• up to 50% of competitive athletes

It is usually easily managed and should be part of any asthma management plan. In fact, regular exercise will improve your overall health and wellbeing, and you should be able to exercise as often as you wish.

If you regularly have asthma symptoms during exercise, talk to your doctor or respiratory specialist.

Exercise is for everyone with asthma#

People with asthma should be able to take part in almost any sport or exercise. Most people can exercise to their full potential if they have good asthma control. Scuba diving is the only sport not generally recommended.

Why exercise can trigger asthma#

When resting, you normally breathe through your nose, which warms and moistens the air traveling to your lungs. During exercise, you often breathe more quickly through your mouth, so colder and drier air reaches your lungs and irritates the airways. This can cause the muscles around the airways to tighten, increasing the chance of an asthma flare-up.

Shortness of breath during physical activity is common and normally settles when the activity stops. However, if physical activity causes symptoms that do not ease with rest, or if asthma symptoms peak soon after exercise, you may have exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Symptoms include:

• wheeze
• shortness of breath
• a feeling of a tight chest
• a dry or persistent cough

If you have asthma symptoms during physical activity or exercise, see your doctor for further advice.

Preventing exercise-induced bronchoconstriction#

Suggestions to help prevent EIB include:

• make sure your asthma is being well managed, as this makes EIB less likely to occur
• always carry your reliever medication, and a spacer if written on your asthma action plan
• warm up before exercise as usual
• during exercise, watch for asthma symptoms, and stop and take your reliever medication if symptoms appear
• only return to exercise once your symptoms have eased
• if symptoms appear a second time during exercise, take your reliever medication again until they are relieved, and do not return to the activity
• after exercise, cool down as usual
• asthma symptoms can occur up to half an hour after exercise, so take your reliever medication if you have symptoms afterward

It is also a good idea to learn asthma first aid.

Key points#

• If you regularly have asthma symptoms during exercise, talk to your doctor or respiratory specialist.
• Shortness of breath during physical activity is common and normally settles when the activity stops.
• Symptoms of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction include wheeze, shortness of breath, a tight chest and a dry cough.
• If you have asthma symptoms during physical activity, see your doctor for further advice.
• During exercise, watch for symptoms, and stop and take your reliever medication if they appear.

Where to get help#