Exercise Induced Asthma, also known as EIA, develops when a person's airways become constricted during or after exercising.
Some common symptoms of this problem include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and a tight chest.
The symptoms are really no different than for any other type of asthma, but in the case of EIA they can occur in people who don't suffer from asthma under normal circumstances.
The trigger for these cases is the exercise itself, and in most cases reducing or eliminating the physical exertion also reduces or eliminates the symptoms of asthma.
However, avoiding exercise is not always the healthiest option so a happy medium should be found.
Treatment for exercise induced asthma is different than that for chronic asthma, so it is critical that it be identified correctly.
Your doctor will be able to run tests such as baseline pulmonary function or peak flow testing to help determine the type.
EIA can affect people at any age, during childhood as well as adulthood.
Because children are often quite active, they can be affected more severely than a lot of adults.
Treatment for exercise induced asthma includes both prevention and medication.
The first thing you should do is adjust your exercise routines to help to accommodate the condition.
This may include cutting back on certain types of exercise, changing the location of where you exercise and reducing the intensity of your exercise.
Many people find that a combination of prevention and medication is the best way to deal with EIA.
Your doctor or allergist will be able to help you determine the best treatment plan for your particular situation.
They will be able to perform a thorough diagnosis to help figure out how to attack the problem most effectively.
Identifying exercise induced asthma is particularly important during childhood.
If it isn't identified, it can lead to other problems, such as peer pressure and low self-esteem, since the child may not want to take part in certain activities that lead to an asthma attack.