Module 5 - Environmental Conditions & Lung Health

Question 1

What is exercise-induced bronchospasm?

Answer 1

EIB is the narrowing of your airway during or after physical exertions

Question 2

What causes EIB?

Answer 2

EIB is caused by the loss of heat, water or both from the airways during exercise when quickly breathing in air that is drier than what is already in the body.

Question 3

What are the symptoms of EIB?

Answer 3

Trouble breathing, coughing, chest pain, chest tightness, & wheezing.

Question 4

What’s the difference between bronchioles and alveoli?

Answer 4

Your bronchioles are some of the smallest airways in your lungs. Inhaled air passes through tiny ducts from the bronchioles into elastic air sacs (alveoli).

Question 5

How does hard breathing affect the airway liquid that lines your bronchioles?

Answer 5

While breathing, or breathing hard, water evaporates from the airway liquid surface that lines your bronchioles at a rate you cannot keep up with. This drying then causes a shift in the osmotic gradient in the cells that make up the airway, stimulating the release of inflammatory mediators.