Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm (Asthma): What you need to know (Part 1)

Below is a summary from the Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm Landmark Survey, a study that evaluated exercise-related respiratory symptoms in children ages 4-17.  Dr. Susarla

Key Insights

The survey findings yield a number of important insights about asthma and exercise-induced bronchospasm in the United States: 

• Patients with asthma have a significant physical burden of disease, which produces lower self-health ratings, activity limitations, and sick days, compared with persons without asthma.
• Asthmatic patients with symptoms of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) also have a significant emotional or psychological burden of disease as demonstrated by feeling more fearful, isolated, depressed, frustrated, and embarrassed than persons without EIB symptoms.
• Nearly half of asthma patients report their health interferes with their ability to participate and perform well in sports, and more than a third feel they cannot keep up as well as other persons their own age in physical activities.
• When asked what usually triggers their asthma or makes it worse, nearly a third of asthma patients volunteer “exercise” --- more than any other asthma trigger.
• Four out of five asthma patients report experiencing symptoms after sports, exercise, play or other physical activity, but less than a quarter have been diagnosed with either exercise-induced asthma (EIA) or exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB).
• Less than a quarter of asthma patients with exercise-related symptoms take quick-relief medicine, like albuterol, always or most of the time prior to exercising.
• Patients’ understanding of exercise-related symptoms and their management are different than healthcare providers, which may lead to miscommunications between physicians and patients regarding proper asthma management.
• Results of the survey suggest that exercise-related symptoms among asthma patients may reflect uncontrolled or improperly managed asthma.
• The problem of EIB is not limited to persons with asthma with more than a quarter of the adult cross-section reporting respiratory symptoms during or after sports, exercise, play or other physical activities, while less than one in five have been diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma or exercise-induced bronchospasm. 

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