Exercise-induced asthma and the asthmatic athlete.

Almost all asthmatics involved in moderate to heavy exercise will experience exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Up to 14% of athletes exhibit EIA, symptoms of which include dyspnea, coughing, chest tightness and wheezing. Education, warm-up exercises and pre-treatment with the appropriate medications can enable an athlete to excel and even win a gold medal in the 1996 Olympic games.