Respiratory Health in Athletes

Asthma in Cross-Country Skiers

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases among athletes. In a 2019 survey we studied asthma and respiratory symptom prevalence in 351 skiers and 338 controls. Asthma prevalence was 25.9% in skiers vs 9.2% in controls. The most successful athletes had the highest asthma prevalence, most often well-controlled with treatment.

Athlete's Cough

Cough is the most common respiratory symptom in athletes and sometimes forces athletes to miss training or competition.

We use the CE-certified SIVA MVP 1.0 cough monitor for objective cough monitoring during and after endurance exercise.

Why Does Asthma Develop in Athletes?

The athlete's airways warm and humidify inhaled air under demanding conditions for extended periods. High-volume endurance training is associated with increased asthma prevalence. We are developing a measurement method to assess exhaled air humidity and temperature and model the athlete's airways during exercise.