Is it Asthma?

[luckyks]

I have a problem whare if I run even for just two or three min, my lungs start to burn very badly, and I feel like I need to cough. I have always had this problem, I can even rember having this problem in grade school PE. This also happens if I ride my bike hard. I always thought I was just out of shape, but now I am 19, not over weight, and enjoying geting outdoors and doing other things that I have no problems with, (bikeing, hiking, swimming ect.) I wonder if there might be another problem.   My friend thought it sounded a little like Asthma. The reason I am not sure is becuse I never have any problems breathing and there is no weezing sound. It just becomes very painful to breath and imposible to contune running or riding. If I stop what I am doing, it starts to go away after about 30 min. and is gone within an hour.

Thank you for your time

[National Jewish]

Wheezing is the most common symptom of asthma.  However for some people chest tightness is their only symptom of asthma.  Exercise is a common trigger for asthma.  For some people it is the only thing that causes asthma symptoms.  In well-conditioned athletes, symptoms of exercise-induced asthma (EIA) may only occur with the most vigorous activity or exercise.  This may be responsible for your breathing being very painful when exercising.

An exercise challenge is a test used to determine whether or not exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is the problem.  You will walk or run on a treadmill or ride an exercise bicycle.  Before and after this exercise spirometry is checked.  Spirometry is a simple breathing test that provides detailed information about how your lungs are working.  If the spirometry drops by 20% after exercising the test is positive for EIA.  If your doctor determines that you have EIA, a prescribed bronchodilator inhaler can be used 10 to 15 minutes before running or cycling hard.  This pre-treating will quickly open the airways and prevent asthma symptoms during exercise.  Please read our Exercise-Induced Asthma MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/induced.html for more information.  It is important for you to be evaluated by a doctor to determine the diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

[starion]

It COULD possibly be exercise-induced asthma OR Vocal Cord Dysfunction or other condition.  The best way to find out is to speak with your doctor about your symptoms and ask for an evaluation.  A lung function test and exercise-induced bronchospasm test could be useful to start with.  Below are two great sites for more info about exercise-induced asthma.

http://asthma.nationaljewish.org/living/exercise/exercise.php

http://library.nationaljewish.org/MSU/10n5MSU_EIA.html

Good luck & please post what you learn.
Starion