Is it normal to wheeze after exercise

It seems our furry friends get EIB of sorts, too. A study of "canine winter athletes" found more airway inflammation in elite Alaskan racing sled dogs than sedentary pooches. You might also need to see a specialist. While there's no questionnaire or tool to diagnose the condition, Professor Berend said the first thing to do is to rule out asthma. And if that drop is more than 10 per cent, then you have EIB. Some people have this drop in peak flow without any symptoms, so while they technically have EIB, it doesn't make them feel unwell.

And because EIB can feel awful — believe me, I know — those who unknowingly have the condition might simply stop exercising, Professor Berend said. If you can't exercise indoors or in a more humid climate, warm up as much as possible before exercise, Dr Haghi said. You can also try to build up your cardiovascular fitness so you can breathe through your nose instead of your mouth.

There's limited evidence that EIB can be helped if you eat less sodium, or up your intake of fish oil or vitamin C, but she added, "these are small studies, and certainly not conclusive".

In terms of pharmaceuticals, a short acting beta agonist can be used to relax the bands of smooth muscle that encircle your airways. You may know a beta agonist by its brand name, Ventolin. It will usually do the trick for people who don't have asthma, Professor Berend said. You can become used to the drug's effects, though, so it should only be used sparingly: three or four times a week is fine.

For those with asthma, even though almost all will have some degree of EIB, they may not feel it if their asthma is well controlled, Professor Berend said. In my case, I bought a puffer and I have a couple of puffs about 15 minutes before sport or exercise. On a long run, I take it with me, and try to breathe through my nose. Among people with asthma, exercise is likely just one of several factors that can trigger breathing difficulties. Most people with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction can continue to exercise and remain active by treating the symptoms with asthma medications and taking preventive measures.

Signs and symptoms of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction usually begin during or soon after exercise. These symptoms can last for 60 minutes or longer if untreated. The signs and symptoms can include:.

See your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. A number of conditions can cause similar symptoms, making it important to get a prompt and accurate diagnosis.

It's not clear what causes exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. There may be more than one biological process involved. People with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction have inflammation and might produce excess mucus after hard exercise. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

It can be difficult for you to perceive the difference between being out of shape and having asthma. At The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, our doctors begin with a comprehensive medical history and physical exam, followed by a baseline lung function test while your body is at rest.

To check specifically for exercise-induced asthma, tests may include specialized pulmonary function testing, electrocardiography, echocardiography, allergy testing or vocal cord tests, depending on your individual symptoms and history.

Results of these tests are immediate, and your doctor can share with you his or her thoughts on treatment and how to safely exercise. The gold standard of exercised-induced asthma treatment is a prescription albuterol inhaler. You can carry it with you and use it about 15 to 20 minutes before exercise to prevent asthma symptoms.

What else can I do to prevent symptoms or attacks? Depending on your triggers, you can keep an eye on the levels of allergens in the air Pollen. Choosing to exercise indoors on these high-allergen or high-pollution days could prevent asthma symptoms. Cold air can provoke asthma symptoms, too. Warming up well before competing in sports can also reduce the risk of asthma symptoms developing during competition, in addition to reducing your risk of injury.

Working with your health care provider will ensure that you have an individualized plan for your gradual progression back to your regular exercise activity. I watched a Eucapnic Voluntary Hyperpnoea EVH test be performed at the centre, which is considered the gold-standard test for diagnosing exercise induced bronchoconstriction EIB. During a EVH test, the patient breathes a cold, dry gas similar to normal air but with more carbon dioxide, for 6 minutes at a high ventilation rate.

CLE involves passing a laryngoscope through the nose to allow continuous observations of laryngeal structures during exercise and is the gold standard test for diagnosing EILO. While asthma is a common cause of exercise induced shortness of breath and wheeze, other diagnosis should be considered and may be occurring alongside asthma.

Encouraging people to be active is vital and if respiratory conditions stop patients from exercising, we need to take a proactive approach to treating them, and this may include not giving inhalers to everyone that comes in with a wheeze.

Episode Katie Marino krmarino1 is a final year medical student Sheffield University. Keeley, M.