CLINICAL SECTION   

Medicina dello Sport 2003 September;56(3):165-73

Copyright © 2003 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Asthma in the athlete: prevalence and mechanisms of development

Brotto E., Masiero M., Segattini C., Baratieri S., Cantoni B., Corradini G., Ferrari M.

Servizio di Fisiopatologia Respiratoria, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona

In the last decade several studies have reported an increased prevalence of asthma and of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in the athlete population. The prevalence of asthma and of BHR seems to be higher in athletes than in the general population, particularly in swimmers and in cross-country skiers. Possible mechanism involved in the development of the disease are still uncertain, even though the characteristics of the environment in which exercise is performed, seems to have an important role. Particularly, the inhalation of high volume of dry, cold air or of pollutants might induce bronchial inflammation, and subsequently cause respiratory symptoms and BHR.