United Kingdom
A 17-year-old male asked:
I was just diagnosed with excersised induced asthma, is it possible to get asthma attack when not excersising ?
9 doctor answers • 15 doctors weighed in

A Verified Doctoranswered
Family Medicine 48 years experience
YES: Exercise induced asthma is just a variant of bronchial asthma and I suggest formal pulmonary function studies and allergy testing.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. John Chiuanswered
Allergy and Immunology 58 years experience
Depends: If you have asthma only with very vigorous exertion, the condition is called exercise induced bronchospasm which many elite athletes suffer (who have no asthma at any other time otherwise). Some people do develop asthma only with exertion and may have no problem at all at other times. There is some suggestion however that EIA may be a harbinger of bronchial asthma later on.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Corey Clay commented
Allergy and Immunology 11 years experience
Sometimes it is helpful to check peak flow values at home. Some patients have difficulty detecting an asthma attack, but first notice a significant decline in peak flow function before the onset of symptoms. Conversely, if your asthma is normally adequately controlled, peak flow values will increase after albuterol.
Mar 8, 2015

A Verified Doctoranswered
Pediatric Pulmonology 23 years experience
Yes: yes it is possible - if it happens often you may have to use a preventive inhaler daily
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Duane Gelsanswered
Allergy and Immunology 38 years experience
Sure. But...: Ex. induced asthma is one form of intermittant asthma. Intermittant asthma can be triggered by other factors, too. Given your history, though, I'd confirm asthma w/ ex. challenge involving spirometry. Exercise can also cause shortness of breath from GERD and larygospasm (VCD). See allergist or pulmonogist.
3.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Yash Khannaanswered
Family Medicine 58 years experience
AsthmaExerciseInduce: Exercise induced Asthma as the name says is attack of asthma that is triggered by doing vigorous or prolonged exercise or physical exertion
But there are many patients with Chronic Asthma who may develop symptoms of Asthma during Strenuous Execise
So there is some overlapping in some patients but exercise induced asthma is an entity by itself&those patients get Asthma symptoms on exercise only
3.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Luis Matosanswered
Pediatric Allergy and Asthma 46 years experience
Maybe.: If you truly have Exercise induced Bronchospasm (EIB) then you cough wheeze or have shortness of breath when you stop exercising. We see pulmonary functions drop to the worse levels 7-10 minutes after exercise. Breathing cold dry air can also trigger symptoms in EIB. Sometime the name gets used to describe asthma that gets worse when you exercise. Then other things will trigger asthma attacks.
2.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Luis Matos commented
Pediatric Allergy and Asthma 46 years experience
Provided original answer
Breathing in cold dry air while walking outside can cause an asthma attack in those with EIB.
May 19, 2016

Dr. Stephen Southardanswered
Internal Medicine 16 years experience
Very much so: If you have exercise induced asthma it already tells me you have airways that can be "reactive" at times. Sometimes, if it's just the right trigger, like a viral/bacterial bronchitis, it could set of an asthma flare without even exercising.
2.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Richard Williamsanswered
Pharmacy 19 years experience
Sure: Though exercise induced asthma is not triggered by the same triggers as other asthmatics., strong emotions like crying, laughing,etc can trigger an attack. Cold whether may also trigger an attack in non-allergic asthma.
Good Luck
1.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Charles Gordonanswered
Specializes in Adolescent Medicine
Of course.: There are many different triggers that can start someone's bronchi constricting causing an asthma attack. Those triggers can be different in different people. They can be allergies, exposure to cold air, infection "colds", exercise, etc. The medicines to treat it can be taken both therapeutically when you are sick and prophylactically (when you realize that you will be confronting a trigger).
1.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Jun 5, 2016
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
24/7 visits - just $39!
50% off with $15/month membership
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.