Mechanisms and Management of Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction

The term “exercise-induced asthma” has been used to describe the transient narrowing of the airways and the subsequent increase in airway resistance, which can occur during, though more commonly following, vigorous exercise [1]. Exercise is a trigger for bronchoconstriction in individuals with asthma, but is not considered an independent risk factor for the development of asthma. The term “exercise-induced asthma” can be misleading and in some individuals, symptoms and airway narrowing can develop as a result of acute vigorous exercise in the absence of other clinically recognized symptoms of asthma [2]. Thus, the term exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is now generally preferred to be a more accurate reflection of the underlying pathophysiology.