Exercise-induced asthma (exercise-induced bronchoconstriction) happens when your airways get smaller during physical activity, triggering asthma symptoms. This might include coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath. Warming up, inhalers and other medications can prevent asthma episodes and open your airways when you do have an episode.
Exercise-induced asthma happens when your airways get smaller during exercise, making it hard for you to breathe. You may have asthma symptoms like coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath during or after physical activity.
Symptoms can be worse when the air is cold and dry, or when pollution levels and pollen counts are high. Exercise-induced asthma is also called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) or sports-induced asthma.
About 40% to 90% of people with asthma have symptoms during or after exercise. But it can happen even without an asthma diagnosis — up to 20% of people in the general population (who may or may not have asthma) have exercise-induced asthma symptoms.
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Symptoms of exercise-induced asthma include:
Symptoms can range from mild to severe. They can appear a few minutes after you start exercising or after you finish a workout. Symptoms usually start to improve after about 30 minutes of rest.
Sometimes, exercise-induced asthma symptoms can return up to 12 hours after you’ve finished exercising. They can appear even when you’re at rest. These are called “late-phase” symptoms. It may take up to a day for late-phase symptoms to go away.
Intense aerobic physical activity can trigger exercise-induced asthma. It’s worse when:
Any activity can cause symptoms, but those that require constant physical exertion (with little rest) and cold-weather sports are the most likely to trigger asthma. Examples include:
Swimming, diving or playing water polo in an indoor, chlorinated pool can also irritate your lungs.
People with asthma and allergies are more likely to have exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. It’s more common among elite athletes, like Olympic athletes and professional football, soccer and hockey players. Studies suggest between 30% and 70% of elite athletes have exercise-induced asthma.
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Your provider will ask about your symptoms, including when you have them and how long they last. They’ll also ask if you have a family history of asthma or other airway conditions. They’ll listen to your heart and lungs and may perform additional tests. These include:
Treatment for exercise-induced asthma focuses on preventing and relieving symptoms. In addition to preventive steps — like warming up before physical activity — your provider may prescribe medications that can help. Some drugs open your airways while you’re having symptoms and others prevent symptoms.
Your provider may prescribe medications you breathe in using an inhaler or a nebulizer. These can prevent or relieve symptoms. Inhaled medications for exercise-induced asthma include:
Leukotriene modifiers and antihistamines also help reduce asthma symptoms in some people.
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With planning and preparation, you may be able to avoid an asthma episode. Before physical activity, you should:
Choose indoor or lower-intensity sports. If you have sports-induced asthma, you may want to choose certain activities over others. Endurance sports and activities that take place in colder temperatures are more likely to trigger symptoms. If you enjoy water sports, it may help to do them in a saltwater pool or bodies of water that aren’t chlorinated.
Indoor sports and those that are less intense or involve short bursts of activity are less likely to trigger an asthma episode. Examples include:
Many people with exercise or sports-induced asthma manage the condition and live active, healthy lifestyles. With proper planning and care, you can exercise and enjoy a variety of sports and activities.
If you have asthma symptoms that start during or shortly after physical activity, you might have exercise-induced asthma. But its symptoms can be similar to other conditions, so talk to a healthcare provider to get a proper diagnosis.
If you or your child has symptoms of EIB, call a healthcare provider. If you can, keep track of and share with your provider:
If you’re prescribed an inhaler, make sure your provider shows you how to use it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about proper use.
If you or your child has severe shortness of breath or trouble breathing, seek immediate medical attention. Call 911 or go directly to the emergency room.
It might be helpful to ask your provider:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned athlete, asthma symptoms can really slow you down. But many people with exercise-induced asthma can continue to play sports, enjoy a range of activities and live active lifestyles. Taking a few extra steps, like including a warmup routine, can make a big difference. Talk to your provider about medications that can help you breathe easier. With lifestyle changes and prior planning, you can stay active and exercise safely.
Last reviewed on 06/10/2024.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy