Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is wheezing and shortness of breath that occur during exercise. It can occur in people who never wheeze at any other time, those who wheeze only when they have an infection or allergy, and those who have asthma at other times. People with EIA can start to wheeze or become short of breath several minutes after they start to exercise and symptoms can become more severe five to 10 minutes after stopping. The shortness of breath and coughing usually improve 30 minutes after stopping exercise, but milder symptoms can continue for four to twelve hours.
What is Asthma?
Asthma means intermittent obstruction in the bronchial tubes that bring air to and from your lungs. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and a feeling of chest tightness, pain, or pressure. Your chest may start to feel tight when you:
* inhale allergens such as pollens, dust or mold
* inhale irritants such as hair spray, mothballs, insecticides, fresh paint, cooking fumes, perfume, cleaning agents, smoke, or any noxious odor or air pollutant
* eat foods to which you are allergic
* take aspirin
* have an infection in your respiratory tract
* cry, yell, feel stress or anger, or laugh very hard
* breathe dry or cold air -- the primary trigger of EIA
