Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction

Exercise-induced asthma (EIA), now referred to as exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), is extremely common. The terms EIA and EIB, although not identical, are often used interchangeably in much of the literature. EIB is now the accepted term to avoid the mistaken impression that exercise causes asthma. Rather, exercise leads to bronchospasm in susceptible individuals, who may or may not have asthma. In this light, all patients with EIA have EIB, but the reverse is not true. This is especially true of athletes who demonstrate airway bronchial hyperactivity that may be a consequence of extreme performance conditions and hyperventilation.