Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB)
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a condition characterized by the narrowing of airways during or after physical activity, resulting in symptoms similar to asthma. While it predominantly affects individuals with existing asthma, EIB can also occur in those without any prior respiratory issues. It is especially common among athletes engaged in endurance sports, such as long-distance running or cross-country skiing, and can be exacerbated by environmental factors like cold, dry air and humidity levels. Symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and fatigue.
Diagnosing EIB can be challenging, as its symptoms overlap with various other respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Physicians typically perform a series of tests, starting with spirometry, to assess lung function and rule out underlying asthma or other health issues. Treatment approaches may involve both non-pharmacological strategies, such as avoiding triggers and making dietary adjustments, and pharmacological options like inhaled bronchodilators or corticosteroids. Managing EIB effectively is crucial for individuals affected, whether they are competitive athletes or casual exercisers, to enable them to engage in physical activity comfortably and safely.
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Subject Terms
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB)
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), which is sometimes called exercise-induced asthma (EIA), is a condition in which the airways become narrow during or after exercise. Although EIB often occurs in individuals suffering from underlying asthma, it can also occur in those who do not. EIB is most common in people who participate in high-endurance sporting activity and is exacerbated by air temperature, humidity levels, and other environmental factors. Diagnosis of EIB requires several levels of testing, as its symptoms can mirror those of other illnesses. Treatments vary and can focus on pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical therapies.
Overview
EIB is found most often in athletes who participate in endurance sports, such as cross-country skiing or long-distance running, as well as in people already diagnosed with asthma. Many of the symptoms of EIB resemble those of asthma: shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and tightening of the chest. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, fatigue, and a sense of being out of shape or not able to keep up physically. Many patients report that they experience symptoms after breathing cold, dry air for extended periods.
EIB can be difficult to diagnose, and a doctor will often first determine if a patient’s reported symptoms are a result of underlying asthma. Because many of the symptoms of EIB mimic symptoms of other conditions, such as vocal-cord problems, lung disorders, heart disease, or seasonal allergies, doctors often order further tests to rule out these other, sometimes more serious, conditions.
After a patient reports his or her symptoms, the first test administered is often a resting spirometry, which is used to determine if underlying asthma is present. The test measures the amount of air that can be expelled after taking a full breath. Depending on the results of the spirometry, additional testing may include blood or skin tests or chest x-rays to determine if allergies are present; exercise testing, in which lung function is measured while a patient walks or runs on a treadmill; or, if the patient is an athlete, field-exercise testing, in which the patient engages in the sport in which he or she normally competes.
Once EIB is diagnosed, a doctor may first suggest non-pharmacological treatments, such as wearing a heat-exchange mask while exercising in cold weather; choosing to participate in sports that involve short bursts of activity, such as sprinting or baseball; avoiding environmental triggers, such as dust or cold, dry air; or changing one’s diet, possibly by reducing sodium intake while increasing intake of omega-3 fish oil. Pharmacological treatments include inhaling medications such as beta-agonists, which serve to relax the muscles in the airways, or corticosteroids, which act as an anti-inflammatory agent. These treatments are administered prior to exercising.
EIB can be debilitating, regardless of the severity of the symptoms or whether the patient is a professional athlete or a child. Although researchers and medical professionals are unsure what exactly causes EIB, they are confident of the triggers that must be avoided and the proven methods for treating and stabilizing the condition.
Bibliography
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