Exercise is one of the most common triggers for kids and teens with asthma. But some people (including those who don't have asthma) have asthma symptoms only during or after exercise. This is known as exercise-induced asthma (EIA) (also called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, or EIB).
When this happens, a person might:
Symptoms may happen within 5–10 minutes of exercising, and peak 5–10 minutes after exercising stops. Symptoms usually go away within 1 hour.
Students with EIA may:
Having EIA doesn't mean students should skip sports, gym classes, or other physical activities. As well as keeping them fit, exercise can strengthen the breathing muscles in the chest and help their lungs work better. But students with EIA may need to use inhalers before they exercise.
Teachers and coaches can help students with EIA by:
You should know your students' asthma triggers and let them use their medicines when needed. If a student's symptoms don't improve or get worse after taking medicine, call the school nurse or 911.
Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date Reviewed: Mar 14, 2018