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Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction, Sports Medicine

Andrea Kussman, MD, CAQSM and Brian Young Kim, MD, MS, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • A form of airway hyperresponsiveness characterized by a heightened bronchoconstriction response to a variety of stimuli related to exercise

  • Characterized by wheezing, coughing, shortn...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Personal or family history of allergies or asthma

  • Symptoms are often a poor predictor of who has EIB.

  • Symptoms occur during or after exercise, typically appearing after 5 to 15 min of e...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Warm-up of 15 min at moderate exertion 15 to 30 min prior to exercise can induce a refractory period preventing bronchoconstriction 1,3[A].

  • Avoidance of triggers (cold, dry ai...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • If not responding to an inhaled SABA, consider other diagnoses.

  • Have the patient return if their use of SABA increases.

  • Must continue to monitor because efficacy of...

REFERENCES

1
Weiler JM, Brannan JD, Randolph CC, et al. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction update—2016. J Allergy Clin Immunol.  2016;138(5):1292–1295.e36.
2
Parsons JP, Mastronarde JG. Exercise-i...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Boulet LP, O’Byrne PM. Asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in athletes. N Engl J Med.  2015;327(7):641–648.

  • Smoglia JM, Weiss P, Rundell KW. Exercise induced broncho...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • First-line treatment is a SABA before exercise.

  • Avoid daily use of a SABA because tachyphylaxis may develop. Have the athlete use this during high-intensity practice and competition.

  • If ...

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