Exercise Induced Asthma - EIA

Dateline: 12/02/98

Any athlete will tell you that a relaxed and rythmic breathing rate is essential to maintaining a steady heartrate during aerobic exercise. Imagine that you no longer had control over your breathing rate. Now imagine that you had to maintain that rate while breathing through a straw. Not such a simple task. Yet this is what individuals with exercise-induced asthma deal with every time they exercise. What exactly is exercise-induced asthma (EIA) and what can you do to ease the impact on your sports performance?

Well, the good news is that EIA symptoms can be controlled. One look at the athletes in this list will tell you that. But how can you control your symptoms? Well, first you need to know something about the pulmonary system and lung anatomy.

Next, you should understand chronic asthma, a disease of the respiratory system that affects the broncial tubes that carry air to the lungs. People with asthma have long-term inflammation in these tubes. The inflammation is most often controlled with medication. If not controlled, the inflamation can lead to permanent damage to the bronchial tubes. Ocassionally, a trigger causes an overreaction of the bronchial tubes which narrow and block the air flow. This is a classical asthma attack.

FROM AROUND THE 'NET

1. Glucosamine warning:

This popular over-the-counter supplement may indeed reduce
joint pain. But new research shows that the pain relief may come with a cost if
you have diabetes. In a small, preliminary study, people who took the supplement
experienced a decreased effectiveness of insulin, which throws off blood sugar
control.


2. Relay: share the road

Sometimes you need a little help from your friends -- like when
you're running 195 miles over rugged terrain. Say hello to the
long-distance relay event. A growing number of events across the
country feature team events covering huge distances over hours or
even days. The events include the Oregon's Hood to Coast Relay
(arguably the granddaddy of 'em all, self-billed as the world's
longest relay event).

Asimba.com offers a feature on relay events, pegging their
appeal as "part athletic challenge and part rolling pajama party for
grown-ups."

For details, visit Asimba:
http://www.asimba.com/lifestyle/magazines/article/sports/2811.html

3. Deodorant - Breast Cancer?
 
 This question has been making the rounds for the past year or so. It
had been suggested--and sent to email boxes around the country--that
antiperspirants block the body's ability to perspire, allowing the
toxins to build up under the arm, leading to cancer. However, the
American Cancer Society assures us that antiperspirants do not cause
breast cancer.

Here are the facts: Breast cancer is a malignant neoplasm (group of
cancer cells) that is either contained (in situ) or are invasive
(infiltrating). One of eight women will develop breast cancer in her
lifetime, and more than 140,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year.
There may be a genetic predisposition for some families, and a woman
with a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer is at a higher
risk. The risk increases with age. Regular clinical breast exams,
monthly self-breast exams, and screening mammography can help detect
cancers in their smallest forms--with a 95 percent survival rate for
these small cancers.
 
 
4. A New Women's Running Site - A new site from Runner's World that is
sensitive and knowledgeable about women's running issues. A great resource
for anyone - male or female!
http://www.womens-running.com/


5. EndurePlus.com - a site focusing on sports nutrition, training, health and daily news
information for the endurance athlete. Updated daily, completely
free, it is where endurance athletes go to get faster.
http://www.endureplus.com


6. Make Time for Love!

Time to face facts: Some people who are just as
busy as you still manage to find time to make love.
How? They schedule it. Try this: Get out your
appointment book and pick a date and time for a
little romance with your sweetheart. And don't worry
about being in the mood. Chances are, by the time
you're done, you'll be glad you didn't take a raincheck.


7. Calling all healthy readers.

When life gets busy, it
can be difficult to find enough time to eat right, get
enough sleep and exercise. So, who has time for sex?
You do, and it's in your best health interests to schedule
more. According to Michael F. Roizen, M.D., you can
increase your lifespan by having sex twice weekly. And
don't worry about jeopardizing your workout energy - a
recent British study of marathon runners showed those
who had some extra "training" the night before the race
actually improved their times!