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What is exercise-induced asthma?
23 January 2026
This refers to bronchoconstriction or narrowing of the airways caused by performing high-intensity exercise, either while developing the physical activity or upon its conclusion, leading to shortness of breath, coughing fits, wheezing, and difficulty breathing normally.
Also known as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), exercise-induced asthma causes excessive mucus and inflammation in susceptible individuals when performing physical activities.
The direct cause of exercise-induced asthma is not entirely clear, but it is a fact that exercise is a factor that generates respiratory problems in asthmatic patients.
- Suffering from asthma.
- Participating in high-performance sports.
- Cold and dry air.
- Polluted environment.
- Presence of chemical cleaners.
- Activities with high respiratory demand.
Signs and symptoms Exercise-Induced Asthma
- Episodes can last for more than an hour if left untreated.
- Coughing fits.
- Noises and wheezing.
- Shortness of breath (scarce breath).
- Sore chest.
- Chest tightness.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Poor physical performance.
Diagnosis and treatment Exercise-Induced Asthma
Once the doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and request various studies such as:
- Lung function analysis.
- Exercise tolerance tests.
- Chest X-ray.
The treatment to follow will depend on the severity of the symptoms you experience, but it generally consists of symptom control and prevention of complications through:
Medications taken prior to exercise:
- Short-acting beta-agonists.
- Ipratropium.
Long-term control medications:
- Corticosteroids.
- Combination of corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists.
- Leukotriene modifiers.
In the Internal Medicine Department at Centro Médico ABC, we provide medical care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies, including both chronic-degenerative conditions and acute cases, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.
Related centers and departments Exercise-Induced Asthma
Sources:
- topdoctors.es
- cun.es
- elsevier.es
- middlesexhealth.org
- msdmanuals.com
- medlineplus.gov
- mayoclinic.org
- medigraphic.com
- Landa OV. Asma inducida por ejercicio. Rev Med UV. 2004;4(1):17-25.
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The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.
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