Diagnosis
To diagnose exercise-induced asthma, a healthcare professional typically takes a medical history and does a physical exam before doing any tests. You also may have tests to check your lung function and rule out other conditions.
Test of current lung function
A spirometry (spy-ROM-uh-tree) test will likely be done. This exam shows how well the lungs function when someone is not exercising. A spirometer measures how much air is inhaled, how much is exhaled and how quickly the air is exhaled.
Spirometry may be repeated after taking an inhaled medicine to open the lungs. This medicine is known as a bronchodilator. The results of the two measurements are then compared to see if airflow improved after taking the bronchodilator. This initial lung function test is important for ruling out chronic asthma as the cause of symptoms.
Exercise challenge tests
An exercise challenge test involves running on a treadmill or using other stationary exercise equipment to increase the breathing rate.
The exercise needs to be intense enough to trigger symptoms. If needed, a real-life exercise challenge, such as climbing stairs, may be done. Spirometry tests before and after the challenge can provide evidence of exercise-induced asthma.
Methacholine challenge breathing test
This test involves inhaling an agent, often methacholine, that narrows the airways in some people with exercise-induced asthma. Afterward, a spirometry test checks lung function. This test mimics the conditions likely to trigger exercise-induced asthma.
Spirometer
A spirometer is a diagnostic device that measures the amount of air you're able to breathe in and out. It also tracks the time it takes you to exhale completely after you take a deep breath.
Treatment
A healthcare professional might prescribe medicines to take shortly before exercise or to take daily for long-term control.
Preexercise medicines
If a health professional prescribes a medicine to take before exercising, ask how much time is needed between taking the medicine and starting the activity.
- Short-acting beta agonists (SABAs) are the most commonly prescribed medicines to take before exercising. These medicines include albuterol (ProAir HFA, Proventil-HFA, Ventolin HFA) and levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA). SABAs are inhaled medicines that help open airways. Do not use these medicines every day because it can make them less effective.
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Ipratropium (Atrovent HFA) is an inhaled medicine that relaxes the airways and may be effective for some people. A generic version of ipratropium also can be taken with a device called a nebulizer.
Long-term control medicines
A healthcare professional may prescribe a long-term control medicine to manage underlying asthma or to control symptoms when preexercise treatment alone doesn't work. These medicines are usually taken daily. They include:
- Inhaled corticosteroids, which help calm inflammation in the airways. These medicines are taken by breathing them in. This treatment may need to be used for up to four weeks before it will have maximum benefit.
- Combination inhalers, which contain a corticosteroid and a long-acting beta agonist (LABA), a medicine that relaxes airways. These inhalers are prescribed for long-term control, but a health professional may recommend using them before exercise.
- Leukotriene modifiers, which are medicines that block inflammatory activity for some people. These medicines are taken by mouth. They can be used daily or before exercise if taken at least two hours in advance.
Possible side effects of leukotriene modifiers include behavior and mood changes and suicidal thoughts. Talk to your health professional if you have these symptoms.
Don't rely only on quick-relief medicines
Preexercise medicines may be recommended as a quick-relief treatment for symptoms. However, a preexercise inhaler should not be used more often than recommended.
Keep a record of:
- How many puffs are used each week.
- How often the preexercise inhaler is used for prevention.
- How often the preexercise inhaler is used to treat symptoms.
If you use your inhaler daily or you often use it for symptom relief, your health professional might adjust your long-term control medicine.
Self care
Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for everyone, including most people with exercise-induced asthma. Besides taking medicine, you can try these steps to help prevent or ease symptoms:
- Do about 15 minutes of warmup that varies in intensity before beginning regular exercise.
- Breathe through the nose to warm and humidify air before it enters the lungs.
- Wear a face mask or scarf when exercising, especially in cold, dry weather.
- If you have allergies, avoid triggers. For example, don't exercise outside when pollen counts are high.
- Try to avoid areas with high levels of air pollution, such as roads with heavy traffic.
At school
If your child has exercise-induced asthma, talk with a healthcare professional about providing an action plan. This document provides step-by-step instructions for teachers, nurses and coaches that explain:
- What treatments your child needs.
- When treatments should be given.
- What to do if your child has symptoms.
Alternative medicine
There is limited evidence that any alternative treatments benefit people with exercise-induced asthma. For example, it's been suggested that fish oil, vitamin C or vitamin C supplements can help prevent exercise-induced asthma, but there isn't enough evidence to show whether they're useful.
Preparing for your appointment
You're likely to start by seeing someone on your primary healthcare team. A member of your care team may refer you to someone who specializes in asthma, such as an allergist-immunologist or a pulmonologist.
Be prepared to answer the following questions:
- What symptoms have you had?
- Do they start right away when you start exercising, sometime during a workout or after you exercise?
- How long do the symptoms last?
- Do you have breathing difficulties when you're not exercising?
- What are your typical workouts or recreational activities?
- Have you recently made changes to your exercise routine?
- Do the symptoms happen every time you exercise or only in certain environments?
- Have you been diagnosed with allergies or asthma?
- What other medical conditions do you have?
- What medicines do you take? What is the dosage of each medicine?
- What dietary supplements or herbal medicines do you take?
