People who are in good shape but find themselves wheezing and short of breathe a few minutes into a workout may suffer from exercise-induced asthma (EIA).

And that asthma could actually be coupled with allergies. In fact, asthma is commonly split into two types: allergic and non-allergic asthma. Allergic (extrinsic) asthma is characterized by symptoms that are triggered by an allergic reaction to inhaled allergens such as dust mite allergen, pet dander, pollen and mold.

Causes of Exercise-Induced Asthma:

During exercise, your body demands more oxygen, causing you to breathe more quickly. People frequently breathe through their mouths during exercise, rather than their nose, which means the air hitting your lungs is cooler and dryer than when it goes through the nasal passages. This cooler air triggers muscle spasms in the lungs.

Pollution levels, high pollen counts and exposure to other allergens or irritants like smoke or fumes can worsen your exercise-induced asthma symptoms.

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Best Sports If You Have Exercise-Induced Asthma:

Intermittent periods of activity are better-tolerated for people with EIA than endurance sports like soccer and long-distance running. Examples of good short-burst sports: volleyball, gymnastics and baseball. Walking can be a great workout for people who suffer from EIA. Indoor swimming is often a good option for people with exercise-induced asthma because the air inside an indoor pool is warm and moist.

Cold air sports like ice hockey and ice skating generally exacerbate EIA since the environmental air is cold and dry already.

Treating Exercise-Induced Asthma

Everyone needs exercise! Don't give up on working out if you suspect you have EIA. First, visit your doctor to make sure you have exercise-induced asthma and not something else.

Once you're diagnosed with EIA, your doctor will probably prescribe medication for you to take prior to exercising.

Make sure to warm up for 5-10 minutes before exercise or vigorous activity, to help prepare your body.