Do you get short of breath when you exercise? This could be Exercise-Induced Asthma!

Often, we see that some people, especially young children, suddenly wheeze while running around and playing, saying, "I can't breathe." Some parents get a little scared and worried when they see this. Actually, this is not something to be afraid of, but it is definitely a situation that we should be concerned about and seek medical advice. Today, let's talk about what causes this, what can be done about it, and what exactly this (Exercise-Induced Asthma) is.

What is this (Exercise-Induced Asthma)?

Simply put, Exercise-Induced Asthma is a condition in which asthma-like symptoms occur only when you exercise, such as when you run, jump, play, or engage in any physical activity. For example, some people have no wheezing or difficulty breathing in their daily lives, but these symptoms only appear when they exercise. Then some people have asthma , which means they have asthma at other times as well. For such people, exercise can make their asthma worse. In other words, exercise can be a trigger , or a stimulant, that makes their asthma worse.

Don't panic right away when you hear this, okay? Because this condition (Exercise-Induced Asthma) is something that can be controlled very well . All you need to do is take proper medical advice and act accordingly.

What are the symptoms of this? How do we recognize it?

Imagine your child playing hard and then suddenly stops, or starts coughing. Or when breathing, a small whistling or whistling sound comes from inside the chest. You could even say that the chest is tightening. These are the main symptoms of (Exercise-Induced Asthma). Let's see what they are:

• Cough: A dry cough that occurs especially during or after exercise.
• Shortness of breath: Feeling like it's hard to breathe, feeling like you're suffocating.
• Wheezing: A whistling sound in the chest, like a small trumpet, when breathing.
• Chest tightness: A feeling of pressure or heaviness or constriction in the chest.
• Getting tired quickly when exercising: Relative to others, meaning they get tired and exhausted more quickly than other children they play with.
• Decreased ability to exercise: Not being able to run or jump as well as before.
• Feeling like something is stuck in your throat.

These symptoms usually start about 5 to 10 minutes after starting exercise. Sometimes, these symptoms can appear as early as 10-15 minutes after you finish exercising. However, these symptoms usually don't last more than an hour or two.

Why is this happening? What are the reasons for this?

Now you might be wondering, "Why does this only happen when we exercise?" Simply put, when we exercise, our bodies need more oxygen. That's when we start breathing faster. Most of the time, we breathe through our mouths instead of through our noses. Now look, when we breathe through our noses, the air that comes in gets a little warmer, moister, and filtered inside our nasal passages. But that doesn't happen when we breathe through our mouths.

So, when this cold, dry air goes directly into the small airways (airways or bronchioles) in our lungs, the cells in the walls of those airways release certain chemicals (chemical mediators). These chemicals cause the muscles around the airways to tighten, causing the airways to constrict or narrow . That's when the airways become narrow, making it difficult to breathe, and those other symptoms occur.

This may be due to other reasons:

• Cold and dry weather: This condition can be exacerbated when exercising outdoors on days like these.
• Pollen or dust particles in the air, smoke: These can be a problem for people with allergies.
• Air pollution: Things like vehicle exhaust, smoke from factories.
• Some people hate the smell of chlorine in swimming pools.
• Exercising when you have a respiratory infection, such as a cold or flu.
• Exposure to certain chemicals: For example, gases like nitrogen dioxide emitted from ice cleaning machines at ice hockey rinks.

How does a doctor confirm this?

When you tell your doctor about these symptoms, he or she will first ask you a lot of questions. What are your symptoms, how long have you had them, when do they occur most often, and whether anyone in your family has asthma or allergies. This is called taking a medical history . Then the doctor will examine you, especially by placing a stethoscope on your chest and listening for wheezing sounds when you breathe.

In addition, there is a special test to confirm this (Exercise-Induced Asthma) condition. It is called spirometry . In this, you are asked to blow rapidly into a small device. It can measure how much air you can exhale from your lungs, and how fast.

Then, your doctor will have you run on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike for about 6-8 minutes and then ask you to breathe into the spirometry machine again. This can measure how much your airways have narrowed and how much you can breathe out after exercise. This is also called an exercise challenge test .

Sometimes, instead of exercise, this test can be done by inhaling a chemical such as methacholine. This also measures the sensitivity of the airways.

Is there a treatment for this? How can it be controlled?

The good news is that this condition (Exercise-Induced Asthma) is very manageable. That means you don't have to stop exercising or playing just because you have it.

Treatment mainly involves medications and small lifestyle changes.

1. Quick-relief medications

Often, your doctor will tell you to use an inhaler . This contains a medicine that makes your airways a little bigger, or dilates them. These are called short-acting beta-agonists (SABA) , for example, the Salbutamol inhaler. Simply put, these medicines widen your airways and make it easier to breathe.

This inhaler should usually be used 10-15 minutes before exercise. This can help prevent or reduce the narrowing of the airways during exercise. The effect lasts for about 4-6 hours.

2. Long-term control medications

For some people, especially those who have frequent asthma or who have exercise-induced asthma, your doctor may prescribe a different type of inhaler to use every day. These are called controller inhalers . They contain medications like inhaled corticosteroids. This works by reducing chronic inflammation in the airways. This makes the airways less sensitive to triggers like exercise.

There are other medications, such as leukotriene modifiers, that can be taken as pills. These may also be helpful for some people.

3. Lifestyle changes and other strategies

In addition to medication, it is also very important to take care of these things:

• Warm-up: It is very important to warm up for about 10 to 15 minutes before starting your workout. Do things like walking slowly and doing small exercises that move your joints. This will help your respiratory system gradually get used to the exercise.
• Cool-down: Also, after finishing your workout, you should not stop immediately, but rather cool down for about 5-10 minutes.
• Try to breathe through your nose: When exercising, try to breathe through your nose as much as possible. This way, the air that enters your lungs is warm and moist.
• Protect yourself on cold days: If you are playing outside on cold, dry days, wear a scarf or a special mask (cold air face mask) that covers your mouth and nose. This will reduce the amount of cold air that comes in directly.
• Avoid triggers: On days with high pollen counts, it's best to limit your outdoor exercise. Or, try exercising early in the morning or in the evening when there's less air pollution.
• Drink plenty of water: Drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercising. It is important to maintain good hydration levels.

Can people with exercise-induced asthma not play sports?

This is the main question that many parents, as well as those with this condition, ask. "If I or my child has (Exercise-Induced Asthma), can they play and exercise?" The answer is, "Absolutely! No problem!"

In fact, it is not a good idea to stop exercising or playing just because you have this condition. Because exercise is very important for our physical and mental health. Just think, there are even Olympic-level gold medalists who have successfully controlled the condition (Exercise-Induced Asthma) and won the world!

The most important thing is to talk to a doctor and learn how to manage this condition properly. If you follow your doctor's instructions, use your medications (especially your inhaler) properly, and follow the precautions mentioned above (warm-up, cool-down, and protection from the cold), most people can play any sport they want without any problems.

Some sports are said to be more conducive to this condition. For example, swimming . Because the air around a swimming pool is usually warm and humid. Also, sports that use a lot of energy in short periods of time, with frequent rest periods (e.g. volleyball, baseball, sprints) may be more suitable for some people than sports that require long periods of continuous running (e.g. marathon running, football, basketball). However, this does not mean that other sports cannot be played. With proper management, anything is possible.

When should I see a doctor?

• If you or your child experience any of the symptoms mentioned above (cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing) while exercising or after exercising, be sure to see your nearest doctor. Don't ignore it.
• If you have been diagnosed with Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIAs) and are taking medication, but your symptoms are not being adequately controlled by the medication, such as if you still have difficulty exercising, see your doctor again. Your medication dosage may need to be adjusted or a different treatment may be recommended.
• If you need to use your reliever inhaler more than two days a week, it means your asthma is not well controlled. In that case, see a doctor.

This is very important: If you suddenly have difficulty breathing, become so dizzy that you can't speak, your lips and fingernails appear to be turning blue, and your inhaler doesn't help, it's a medical emergency . You should go to the nearest hospital immediately.

Things to remember in summary

Okay, so let's finally remind you of some things we thought would be important about Exercise-Induced Asthma:

• Wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing that only occurs during exercise may be called Exercise-Induced Asthma .
• This is nothing to be afraid of , it is a very manageable situation.
• There's no need to stop exercising, playing, or playing sports just because you have this. In fact, exercising can help control this condition.
• If you or your child has any of these symptoms, be sure to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and the necessary advice and treatment.
• Use the medications prescribed by your doctor (especially inhalers) correctly, at the right time, and in the right way. Don't forget to warm up before exercising and cool down after.
• With the right diagnosis, proper treatment, and management, anyone with Exercise-Induced Asthma can live an active, healthy, and happy life.

So, if you have a problem like this, don't delay and see a doctor. Then you too can play your favorite sport without any hindrance and stay healthy!

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