Trigger of Special Types of Asthma

Exercise-induced asthma, sometimes called exercise-induced bronchospasm-, is believed to be caused by a loss of heat, water, or both from your lungs because you are breathing more heavily than normal. Typically, the air you inhale is cooler and drier than air in your lungs, which is warm and moist. The exchange of air leaves your airways dry and cold. There is disagreement, however, whether cold or dry air is the true culprit.

During exercise-induced asthma, your airways constrict minutes after you become active. You may cough, wheeze, feel tightness or pain in your chest, or get other asthma symptoms. Exercise-induced asthma usually happens during or minutes after vigorous activity, peaking about 5 to 10 minutes after you stop. Symptoms go away 20 to 30 minutes later.