Exercise limitation is one of the more common results of asthma.
This can result in part from persisting obstruction to airways at the
time exercise is attempted. More commonly, however, the involuntary
muscle surrounding the airway is triggered to contract by the deep
breathing occurring during the exercise. This is commonly termed
exercise-induced asthma or exercise-induced bronchospasm.
If asthma is otherwise not troublesome or is well-controlled with
maintenance medication and pulmonary function is normal or
near-normal before exercise, the airway obstruction triggered by
exercise is reliably and easily prevented with an inhaled
bronchodilator. At least two inhalations of one of the modern
generation of inhaled bronchodilators used with proper technique
should effectively block this asthmatic airway response to exercise
for at least 2 hours.
With prophylactic use of the inhaled hronchodilator, asthmatics
can generally take part in all physical activity, including
competitive athletics, without limitations imposed by the asthma. In
fact, physical exercise is encouraged for asthmatics because physical
conditioning itself decreases the patient's susceptibility to
exercise-induced asthma.
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