Surprisingly, a good workout can be one of the surest ways to trigger an attack. Just six to eight minutes of strenuous exercise can be enough to cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. Even patients with persistent asthma may notice breathing problems primarily when they work out. When we work out, our airways lose both heat and moisture, especially if the air is cold and dry. That explains why a winter jog around the neighborhood is more likely than a run in a warm gym to cause an attack.
Some sports seem tailor-made to set off asthma attacks.
Take, for instance, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and ice hockey, all vigorous sports performed in the cold. Recent studies have found that 55 percent of elite cross-country skiers and 35 percent of figure skaters showed signs of asthma. Asthma attacks are also common in sports that require intense, continuous effort, such as long-distance running, soccer, and cycling. Swimming and water polo don't bring on many attacks, either, probably because pools are so humid. No matter what your sport, asthma doesn't have to slow you down.