Asthma is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It involves uneven contraction of the bronchioles (bronchospasm) and an increased mucous production. When the bronchioles constrict, air becomes trapped in lungs and it's difficult to remove. So the problem is not getting air in, but getting it out of the lungs. A few common asthma medications:
These medications can cause increased blood pressure and heart rate at rest.
Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm (EIB)Is mostly related to epinephrine levels and its effects depend on the intensity of the exercise. e.g., if you are running warm up laps, your body will release a certain amount of epinephrine (adrenalin) to deal with the distress of exercise. As the intensity of the running increases, so does the amount of epinephrine released - up to a point. When you are sprinting, the force of your muscles contracting helps return blood to your heart, which is one of the jobs of epinephrine, so levels drop. After the high intensity exercise is over, people often experience asthma symptoms due to low levels of epinephrine.
WHAT TO DO:To prevent attacks, use your medication about 10 minutes before a workout and drink plenty of fluids to minimize the effects of mucous build up. Be aware of possible symptoms after you complete exercise (especially high intensity) such as coughing, and a tightness in your chest that doesn't feel like normal fatigue. Note that every time you breathe heavily, this does not mean you are asthmatic or are having an attack. If you have run a decent repeat or a race, you should be breathing hard! If your teammate is experiencing wheezing, get them their inhaler if they have one and try to help them relax as much as possible. You should raise your arms above your head to reduce the pressure on your lungs. Do not share inhalers with anybody even if you have the same prescription. |