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Patients & Consumers Conditions En Español Find an Allergist / Immunologist Just for Kids New Research Parent Resources Pollen Levels Publications Request a Speaker School Tools Seniors The Virtual Allergist™ Treatments Search by Condition (A-Z) Search by Topic Allergy & Asthma Issues Educational Brochures Elements of Allergy and Asthma Order Public Education Materials Allergy Shots Drug Guide Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT)		What is exercise-induced bronchoconstriction? Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (or EIB) causes symptoms of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness to breathing, or shortness of breath. Children with EIB may experience breathing difficulty 5-20 minutes after exertion begins. EIB may occur more easily on cold, dry days than on warm, humid days. If your child’s asthma is triggered by exercise, the symptoms can take subtle forms. They may complain of not being able to run as fast as their peers, and consequently express a dislike for sports. In school-age children, inferior performance in physical education classes or a reluctance to participate in athletics may also lead to problems with fellow students and teachers and low self-esteem. Without proper diagnosis, EIB may cause children to avoid physical activity altogether, but this does not have to be the case. Although the type and duration of recommended activity varies with each individual, some activities are better for those with EIB. Almost all people with EIB should be able to exercise to their full ability with appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Sports that are less likely to trigger EIB: Swimming Walking Leisure biking Hiking Free downhill skiing Team sports that require short bursts of energy , including: Baseball Football Wrestling Golfing Gymnastics Short-distance track and field events Sports that require continuous activity or are cold weather activities are more likely to trigger EIB: Soccer Basketball Field hockey Long-distance running Cross-country skiing Hockey Make sure your child’s physical education teacher and/or coach has specific written instructions that include: The nature of EIB, Which medications are used to prevent EIB and how to use them, Other techniques to prevent EIB (e.g., warm-up period), Warning signs of an asthma episode, A copy of the asthma management plan This article was written and medically reviewed: March 31, 2000 Information for this educational article was derived from the document: Pediatric Asthma: Promoting Best Practice Guide for Managing Asthma in Children Known as the Pediatric Asthma Guide for short, it represents the collective work of many people and many organizations. It is the only document for treating childhood asthma that is endorsed by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The Guide is based on guidelines developed by the NAEPP. This pediatric initiative adapted those guidelines into an easily-referenced, user-friendly, pediatric-focused document for medical professionals. The Guide is but one part of a larger initiative committed to ensuring that a broad spectrum of health care providers learn about, understand and implement clinical and best practice information for diagnosing and managing children with asthma.
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