The diagram at the right shows the chain of events in asthma or RAD that lead to a classic asthma attack. As you can see, there must be a triggering factor causing airway inflammation to begin the process. In children, allergies frequently act as asthma triggers. Cigarette smoke, weather changes, and emotional stress also bring on wheezing, but probably the most common trigger is a simple cold or other respiratory infection. For some unknown reason, the lung airways in asthmatics become inflamed very quickly with colds, even if the virus stays in the head.
Exercise induced asthma is just plain old asthma with exercise as the trigger.
This often occurs at night, when laying flat allows acid to seep back into the swallowing tube and throat. If the acid leaks into your breathing passages, choking and wheezing result. If your asthma attacks don't seem to be caused by colds, allergens, or other respiratory irritation, consider reflux. Shortness of breath or wheezing with exercise or exposure to allergens. Night time wakening with cough or shortness of breath.