Cough after exercise in the elite athlete

Abstract

The cough is a defense mechanism of the airways that is often detected after intense exercise. Breathing in cold or dry ambient air causes heat and water loss from the nasal and bronchial mucosa, which has been related to the onset of cough. The relationship between the presence of cough, asthma, and bronchial responsiveness has not been studied properly. This study investigates the prevalence of cough after exercise and its relationship to the presence of bronchial reactivity, asthma, and exercise‐induced symptoms of asthma in a group of elite athletes. The subjects were 130 well‐trained athletes of international category. Forty of the 130 athletes (31%) practiced aquatic sports, and 90 (69%) were involved in nonaquatic sports. The presence of cough was analyzed by a questionnaire, and the presence or absence of asthma or asthma induced by exercise was determined by evaluation of the clinical history, a questionnaire, and a physical examination. The presence and the level of bronchial reactivity were det...