Some may be minor and easy to overcome.
In most cases, however, these episodes can be managed with proper treatment.
In response, the brain sends out a signal that you gotta breathe faster to get more oxygen.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
It can begin at the same time as other symptoms or occur after theyve started.
Chronic Cough
Achronic coughis one that can’t be soothed.
Instead, the cough sounds raspy, dry, and wheezy.
Wheezing
Wheezingis the high-pitched sound that you make when you inhale or exhale through a narrowed airway.
Wheezing after physical activity may be the first sign of asthma or EIB, especially in children.
It can also occur when you are having a life-threatening attack.
Discuss the possibility of EIB, asthma, or other lung problems with your healthcare provider.
Causes
The process of bronchoconstriction starts when something triggers the muscles along the airways to tighten.
This squeezes the bronchi and bronchioles, which narrows your airway.
In susceptible people, a variety of stimuli in the airway can cause tightening.
Genetics may also play a role.
Further complicating the matter, different triggers can cause bronchoconstriction in different ways.
Allergens, irritants, and cold air are the most common triggers.
Inhaling Cold Air
Bronchoconstriction occurs in people who are sensitive to cool air traveling through their airways.
This is a particular concern for those with EIB.
The air you breathe in through your mouth is cooler than the air you breathe in through the nose.
They will usually go away within 20 to 30 minutes of stopping the activity.
Your healthcare provider will investigate to determine what triggers the constriction.
The evaluation will include a complete history, physical examination, andpulmonary function testing.
An EIB diagnosis usually requires an exercise test.
To determine whether bronchoconstriction is because of an allergen, you will need to undergoallergy testing.
specific IgE tests).
These may be tests for other lung-related problems or other conditions with similar symptoms.
Despite what its name suggests,cardiac asthmaisn’t really a pop in of asthma.
Treatment
The first step in treating bronchoconstriction is determining what your triggers are and avoiding them.
While this sounds easy, it can be challenging.
In addition to easing symptoms during an attack, these medications can prevent exercised-induced bronchoconstriction from occurring.
SABAs and LABAs do not decrease underlying inflammation, however.
This is usually given in a combination inhaler that contains the two medications.
People with asthma that need a SABA may or may not need to be prescribed an inhaled steroid.
This can be particularly important for EIB since bronchoconstriction can be prevented by using your inhaler before activity.
Even if you are an athlete, appropriate medical treatment usually allows you to continue the activities you enjoy.
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