(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma (EIA) may benefit from strategies to increase their production of sweat and other bodily fluids.

That’s the key finding from University of Michigan investigators who measured fluid secretion rates in 56 athletes suspected of having EIA. All the subjects also underwent pulmonary function tests to determine whether they had EIA.

Results showed athletes with lower fluid secretion rates were more likely to test positive for EIA. These athletes also secreted less sodium, which is connected to the secretion of fluids.

 

The authors speculate the same mechanism causing people to secrete less fluid in the form of sweat and tears while exercising is responsible for fluid levels in the airways. This could explain why people with EIA have drier airways.

“It now appears that how much fluid your airways secrete could be a key determinant in protecting you from exercise-induced asthma,” study author Warren Lockette, M.D., was quoted as saying. “We found that by controlling air quality during workouts, as well as by providing individualized attention to our athletes’ hydration and nutrition, we could reduce the limitations imposed by hyperreactive airways in many individuals.”

SOURCE: CHEST, published online September 8, 2008