Signs and symptoms of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction may begin during or soon after exercise. These symptoms may last for 60 minutes or longer if left untreated. The signs and symptoms may include:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness or pain
• Fatigue during exercise
• Poorer than expected athletic performance
• Avoidance of activity (a sign primarily among young children)

Get emergency medical treatment if symptoms are getting worse, such as:

• Shortness of breath or wheezing that is quickly increasing, making it a struggle to breathe
• No improvement even after using a prescription inhaler for asthma attacks

It's not clear what causes exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. There may be more than one biological process involved. People with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction have inflammation and may have excess mucus production after strenuous exercise.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction is more likely to occur in:

• People with asthma. About 90 percent of people with asthma have exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. However, the condition can occur in people without asthma too.
• Elite athletes. Although anyone can experience exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, it's more common in high-level athletes.

Factors that may increase the risk of the condition or act as triggers include:

• Cold air
• Dry air
• Air pollution
• Chlorine in swimming pools
• Chemicals used with ice rink resurfacing equipment
• Activities with extended periods of deep breathing, such as long-distance running, swimming or soccer

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction that is not treated can result in:

• A lack of beneficial exercise
• Poor performance in activities you would otherwise enjoy
• Serious or life-threatening breathing difficulties, particularly among people with poorly managed asthma