Asthma Issues
Everyday Athletes Could Benefit Asthma Tests
By
Jan 4, 2010 - 2:34:27 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - COLUMBUS, Ohio) - New research from Ohio State University Medical Center suggests that a simple breathing test may help identify exercise-induced asthma, a condition that already affects millions of Americans, in millions who may not know they had the condition. Called a hyperventilation test, the evaluation can spot even the most subtle signs of asthma - typically shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing - in “everyday” athletes.

The test involves making a person hyperventilate under a controlled setting for six minutes, then measuring their lung function to determine if it decreases from the stress of hyperventilation, which mimics intense exercise. Results from a study examining the effectiveness of the test to diagnose exercise-induced asthma were recently published in the Journal of Asthma.

The research comes at a perfect time, as many first-time or light exercisers renew their pledge to get in shape in the New Year. Until now, only elite athletes have been tested for exercise-induced asthma, which can leave many struggling with the condition at risk.

“Ten to 15 percent of the general population has asthma and as many as 80 percent of those patients will have exercise-induced asthma as well,” says Jonathan Parsons, MD, an asthma expert at Ohio State University Medical Center.

Dr. Parsons, who led the research, and his team of pulmonologists and critical care specialists analyzed 178 hyperventilation tests to evaluate suspected exercise-induced asthma. Twenty-eight percent of the patient population (50 patients) tested positive for the condition. Overall, hyperventilation testing was diagnostic in 81 percent (144 of 178) of patients tested. Dr. Parsons and his team also found that women, for some reason, are more likely to get exercise-induced asthma than men.

Spotting the signs of exercise-induced asthma early were critical to college basketball player Julian McClurkin, 23. He knew that he had the talent and desire to play college basketball but always felt like something wasn’t quite right.

“After every practice I would end up out of breath, short of breath, wheezing, coughing, all of this,” McClurkin says. “But I never let any of the players or the coaches see that because, I figured if I showed it it meant I was weak.”

Testing patients like McClurkin to avoid future trouble is critical, says Dr. Parsons. “Those are the people that can get into real trouble because, by the time they perceive symptoms their lung function may be dangerously low compared to what it is before they start exercising.”

Ohio State experts encourage those beginning a New Year’s fitness routine to be extra vigilant about coughing, wheezing or tightness in the chest - and to back off at the first sign of trouble. They also say where you exercise makes a difference: cold air outside can make matters worse and so can breathing the cleaning chemicals used in swimming pools or ice rinks.

While the hyperventilation test isn’t widely available for everyone, Ohio State experts encourage those who may be experiencing exercise-induced asthma symptoms to talk to a doctor, as he or she may be able to prescribe the test. Above all, they say, listen to your body’s signals and talk to a physician before the symptoms get too bad.

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