1,721,140 research outputs found
Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction: Background, Prevalence, and Sport Considerations
The transient airway narrowing that occurs as a result of exercise is defined as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). The prevalence of EIB has been reported to be up to 90% in asthmatic patients, reflecting the level of disease control. However, EIB may develop even in subjects without clinical asthma, particularly in children, athletes, patients with atopy or rhinitis, and following respiratory infections. The intensity, duration, and type of training have been associated with the occurrence of EIB. In athletes, EIB seems to be only partly reversible, and exercise seems to be a causative factor of airway inflammation and symptoms
Anaphylaxis and sport
This article aims to review the most relevant studies on exercise-induced anaphylaxis, published in the last year, in order to provide comprehensive and updated evidence and hopefully contribute to a better definition of its pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment strategies
Evaluation of Allergic Diseases, Symptom Control, and Relation to Infections in a Group of Italian Elite Mountain Bikers
OBJECTIVES:
This study estimates the prevalence of allergic diseases in a group of Italian elite mountain bikers, compares the prevalence of infectious episodes between allergic and nonallergic athletes, and evaluates asthma and rhinitis symptom control in allergic athletes.
DESIGN:
Two hundred twenty-six Italian nonsmoking mountain bikers received by mail the Allergy Questionnaire for Athletes (AQUA) and completed it. The RhinAsthma Patient Perspective (RAPP) questionnaire was sent to the 108 participants with a positive AQUA score and 104 returned the questionnaire.
METHODS:
Athletes with an AQUA score ≥5 or <5 were defined AQUA+ (allergic) or AQUA- (nonallergic), respectively. RhinAsthma Patient Perspective questionnaire total score ≥15 was indicative of a poor control of symptoms.
RESULTS:
Of the 226 athletes, 47.8% were AQUA+, whereas 52.2% were AQUA-. A higher number of AQUA+ athletes reported frequent upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and herpes labialis than AQUA- athletes (P < 0.001), and the prevalence of URTI was greater in the subgroup of AQUA+ athletes who trained ≥3 hours per session. According to RAPP questionnaire score, 21.1% of AQUA+ mountain bikers had a poor control of asthma and rhinitis symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our study shows a high prevalence of allergy among Italian elite mountain bikers whose asthma and rhinitis symptoms are poorly controlled in about a fifth of the sample. Allergic athletes, mainly those training more than 3 hours per session, are at higher risk of URTI and herpes labialis. Screening programs to detect allergic diseases and to evaluate symptom control in athletes should be strongly encouraged
Exertional dyspnoea in interstitial lung diseases: the clinical utility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing
Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) represent a heterogeneous group of pathologies characterised by alveolar and interstitial damage, pulmonary inflammation (usually associated with fibrosis), decreased lung function and impaired gas exchange, which can be attributed to either a known or an unknown aetiology. Dyspnoea is one of the most common and disabling symptoms in patients with ILD, significantly impacting quality of life. The mechanisms causing dyspnoea are complex and not yet fully understood. However, it is recognised that dyspnoea occurs when there is an imbalance between the central respiratory efferent drive and the response of the respiratory musculature. The respiratory derangement observed in ILD patients at rest is even more evident during exercise. Pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for exertional dyspnoea and reduced exercise tolerance include altered respiratory mechanics, impaired gas exchange, cardiovascular abnormalities and peripheral muscle dysfunction. This review describes the respiratory physiology of ILD, both at rest and during exercise, and aims to provide comprehensive and updated evidence on the clinical utility of the cardiopulmonary exercise test in the assessment and management of these pathological entities. In addition, the role of exercise training and pulmonary rehabilitation programmes in the ILD population is addressed
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: new evidence in pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment
The acute airway narrowing that occurs as a result of exercise is defined exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). Most recent guidelines recommend distinguishing EIB with underlying clinical asthma (EIBA) from the occurrence of bronchial obstruction in subjects without other symptoms and signs of asthma (EIBwA). EIB has been in fact reported in up to 90 % of asthmatic patients, reflecting the level of disease control, but it may develop even in subjects without clinical asthma, particularly in children, athletes, patients with atopy or rhinitis and following respiratory infections. Both EIBA and EIBwA have peculiar pathogenic mechanisms, diagnostic criteria and responses to treatment and prevention. The use of biomarkers, proteomic approaches and innovative technological procedures will hopefully contribute to better define peculiar phenotypes and to clarify the role of EIB as risk factor for the development of asthma, as well as an occupational disease
Let research leave you breathless, not physical exercise!
Proper endotyping of EIB and precision medicine strategies would allow subjects to fully profit from the very beneficial effects of exercise, without incurring health risks or affecting performances http://ow.ly/spjT30irzjX
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Disability in chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) represents the impact of the disease on the patient’s life. Chronic airway diseases, included but not limited to COPD, are leading this burden.
Overall, the mobility-related dyspnea and the resulting decrease in exercise capacity substantially contribute to increased risk of disability, even after taking lung function impairment into account. Therefore, non-pharmacological interventions such as pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) might be particularly beneficial for these symptomatic patients to limit and to counteract the progressive loss of physical function and related problems. In this chapter we will discuss the most recent evidence related to the assessment of individual’s disability in this population, and we will describe the variety of methods used in the clinical process of care called PR. To date, PR results in substantial effectiveness when applied at the very early onset of disability in individuals suffering from CRD. Programme composition and strategies aimed at behavioural changes in the long-term appear the keys for success in the clinical practice
Tiotropium in asthma: Back to the future of anticholinergic treatment
Asthma is among the most common chronic diseases worldwide; however, despite progresses in the understanding of the patho-physiological mechanisms and advances in the development of new therapeutic options and strategies, the disease remains uncontrolled in a not trivial proportion of subjects. Thus, the need of new molecules to treat the underlying biological and functional abnormalities and to control symptoms is strongly advocated by clinicians. In this scenario, the most recent GINA guidelines have included the use of tiotropium bromide in the most severe and uncontrolled forms of the disease, in addition to treatment with inhaled corticosteroid plus long acting beta adrenergic agents. Indeed, a large body of evidence has accumulated to support the use of tiotropium bromide in asthma. The current review paper provides a state of the art systematic revision of findings on the efficacy and safety of tiotropium in the adult and paediatric asthma population. To this aim, electronic searches were undertaken in the most common scientific databases from the date of inception to March 2017. Robust and high quality evidence showed that tiotropium is effective and safe in both adults and children/adolescents. Predictive markers of response have been also suggested, as well as cost-benefit analyses reported. The tiotropium bronchodilator effect seems to be not solely related to the reduction of the smooth muscle tone. However, the observations on anti-inflammatory properties or reduction in mucus production, despite highly interesting, have been only demonstrated in in vitro studies and animal models, therefore advocating for further specifically designed investigations
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