Common Pulmonary Conditions in Sport

Clin Sports Med. 2019 Oct;38(4):563-575. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2019.06.005.

Abstract

Respiratory symptoms and infections are common among athletes. Viral upper respiratory infection symptoms may precede dyspneic symptoms seen in asthmatics or worsen symptoms of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction Knowing how to instruct an athlete on use of inhalers and having an asthma action plan are critical in management of these athletes. Other life-threatening conditions that may be seen are pneumothorax and laryngeal/pharyngeal perforation. Prompt recognition and treatment are crucial if an athlete is suspected to have pulmonary compromise. Laryngeal/pharyngeal perforations are a rare cause of issues within the training room but require a high degree of suspicion to be diagnosed and managed properly.

Keywords: Asthma; Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB); Laryngeal injury; Pharyngeal injury; Pneumothorax; Respiratory infections.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Asthma / diagnosis
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Bronchoconstriction*
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Larynx / injuries
  • Performance-Enhancing Substances
  • Pharynx / injuries
  • Pneumothorax* / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Tract Infections* / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Tract Infections* / therapy
  • Return to Sport*
  • Vocal Cord Dysfunction / diagnosis
  • Wounds and Injuries / diagnosis

Substances

  • Performance-Enhancing Substances