by Caroline Kramer

Created on: January 18, 2009

Bronchospasm is the tightening of the chest muscles around the airways. It is one of the three constituent parts of an asthma attack, the other two being the airways themselves becoming inflamed and the production of more, or thicker, mucus than usual. Asthma can be caused in two major ways, by exercise and by allergens (or a combination of the two). In either case the attack if likely to feel very much the same. The patient may feel short of breath, start coughing, or have chest pain, If he or she is aware of these symptoms they can take a fast acting broncho-dilator such as albuterol which will open up the airways and restore normal breathing or at least alleviate symptoms until medical help can be sought.

Most asthmatics who live with excercise induced bronchospasm and other symptoms do very well carrying an inhaler. Some will need a secondary medicine which is taken every day on a schedule to keep their symptoms under control. Doctors aim to reduce the number of attacks requiring a fast acting inhaler to a minimum as every attack is potentially dangerous and may damage lung tissue.

An untreated bronchospasm can be life-threatening. The symptoms can progress very rapidly. Slight shortness of breath can move to audible wheezing where the patient may begin to turn blue around the lips as they cannot draw breath. Any emergency of this nature needs a 911 call. The best thing you can do for the patient is to sit them down (laying down, especially on the back, tends to make asthma worse) and keep them calm. They should concentrate on breathing carefully and slowly - panicking will make it worse, although staying calm is nearly impossible when it feels like you have a Sumo Wrestler taking a nap on your chest.

Many asthmatics can have fun with exercise. Having a doctor who knows your asthma is important and checking things out before starting up any new exercise. Weather and humidity are big factors to consider for outside activities, as are heat and air-conditioning for inside ones. Any variance in air quality or air pressure may signal a change in the way an asthmatic's lungs function under the pressure of exercise and some days , even the fittest of folk, will find themselves feeling a little defeated by a combination of lungs which are heavy and feel unreliable and air which is not helping, indoor or out.

Doctors may advise using a brocho-dilator immeidately before exercise to prevent exercise induced problems. It is important to remember that even taking such medicine does not guarantee that there will not be an attack and sensible precautions should always be taken.

There is no reason why people with asthma cannot exercise and most of the time an attack can be managed very easily, even if it sounds frightening. However, if the person is complaining of continuing chest pain, shortness of breath, if they are turning blue around the lips, are continuing a wheeze loudly or are unconscious you need emergency help.

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