An under-recognised cause of exercise-induced shortness of breath

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SPORTS MEDICINE

An under-recognised cause of exercise-induced shortness of breath

27 April 2022

Steve Targett

Wednesday 27 April 2022, 12:30 AM

Symptoms of exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction include throat tightness, upper-chest tightness or pain, noisy breathing, voice changes and a sense of panic [Image: aflor on iStock]

Sports physician Steve Targett summarises exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction, an important cause of exertional breathing problems in active young people that must be distinguished from other respiratory conditions

Key points, Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction is a transient upper-airway obstruction during exercise that may mimic lower-airway dysfunction and, thus, be i, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Sports Medicine

Respiratory Health

References

Clemm HH, Olin JT, McIntosh C, et al. Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) in athletes: a narrative review by a subgroup of the IOC Consensus on ‘acute respiratory illness in the athlete’. Br J Sports Med 2022: 22 February online.

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