Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Breathing dry or humid air and exercise-induced asthma during swimming

  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Recent studies have shown the relevance of air humidity to the provocation of bronchoconstriction by running. The present study was undertaken to ascertain whether the humid air breathed during swimming could explain the protective effect of swimming on the asthmatic. Nine asthmatic children 9–15 years old swam while inspiring dry (25–35% R. H.) or humid (80–90% R. H.) air administered in a random order, a week separating the two sessions. The exercise challenge was an 8-min tethered swim at a metabolic rate (\(\dot V\)O2) of 29 ml·kg−1·min−1, minute ventilation (VE) of 34 L·min−1, and a heart rate (HR) of 161 beats·min−1. Ambient air and water temperature were 28±2‡ C and 27±2‡ C, respectively. Pulmonary functions were tested pre and post swimming. Exercise VE, VO2 and HR were similar under the two conditions. No reduction in any of the pulmonary functions (FVC, FEV1.0, MMEFR, MBC) was found after 5 and 10 minutes following the swimming exercise in either of the conditions. In contrast, a treadmill run of similar metabolic and ventilatory intensity induced bronchoconstriction when room air was dried to 25–30% R. H. It is suggested that, unlike running, swimming is of low asthmogenicity even when inspired air is dried to 25–30% at neutral temperatures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Thoracic Society (1962) Chronic bronchitis, asthma, and pulmonary emphysema. A statement by the Committee on Diagnostic Standards for Nontuberculous Respiratory Disease. Am Rev Resp Dis 85: 762–768

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson SD, Silverman M, Walker SR (1972) Metabolic and ventilatory changes in asthmatic patients during and after exercise. Thorax 27: 718

    Google Scholar 

  • Astin TW, Penman WB (1967) Airway obstruction due to hypoxemia in patients with chronic lung disease. Am Rev Resp Dis 95: 567–575

    Google Scholar 

  • åstrand PO, Rodahl RK (1970) Textbook in work physiology. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Bar-Or O, Neuman I, Dotan R (1977) Effects of dry and humid climates on exercise-induced asthma in children and preadolescents. J Allergy Clin Immunol 60: 163–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Belinkoff S (1971) Emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Little & Brown, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd EM, Boyd CE (1968) Expectorant activity of water in acute asthma attacks. Am J Dis Child 116: 397–399

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen WY, Horton DJ (1977) Heat and water loss from the airways and exercise-induced asthma. Respiration 34: 305–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Crompton GK (1968) An unusual example of exercise-induced asthma. Thorax 23: 165–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Deal CE Jr, McFadden ER Jr, Ingram RH Jr, Jaeger JJ (1979a) Esophageal temperature during exercise in asthmatic and nonasthmatic subjects. J Appl Physiol: Respirat Environ Exerc Physiol 46: 484–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Deal CE Jr, McFadden ER Jr, Ingram RH Jr, Jaeger JJ (1979b) Hyperpnea and heat flux: initial reaction sequence in exercise-induced asthma. J Appl Physiol: Respirat Environ Exerc Physiol 46: 476–483

    Google Scholar 

  • Deal CE Jr, McFadden ER Jr, Ingram RH Jr, Strauss RH, Jaeger JJ (1979c) Role of respiratory heat exchange in production of exercise-induced asthma. J Appl Physiol: Respirat Environ Exerc Physiol 46: 467–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Delhan T (1956) Mucus flow and ciliary activity in the trachea of healthy rats exposed to respiratory irritant gases (SO2, H3N, HCHO). Acta Physiol Scand [Suppl] 123: 5–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Déry R (1971) Humidity in anaesthesiology IV: determination of the alveolar humidity and temperature in the dog. Can Anaesth Soc J 18: 145–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Echt M, Lange L, Gauer OH (1974) Changes in peripheral venous tone and central transmural pressure during immersion in a thermoneutral bath. Pflügers Arch 352: 211–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher HK, Holton P, Buxton RStJ, Nadel JA (1976) Resistance to breathing during exercise-induced asthma attacks. Am Rev Resp Dis 101: 885–896

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitch KD, Godfrey S (1970) Asthma and athletic performance. JAMA 236: 152–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitch KD, Morton AR (1971) Specificity of exercise-induced asthma. Br Med J 4: 577–581

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitch KD, Morton AR, Blanksby BA (1976) Effects of swimming training on children with asthma. Arch Dis Child 51: 190–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Fontana VJ, Fost A, Rappaport I (1968) Effect of rapid change in humidity on pulmonary function studies in normal and asthmatic children in a controlled environment. J Allergy 45: 16

    Google Scholar 

  • Forbes AR (1973) Humidification and mucus flow in the intubated trachea. Br J Anesthesia 45: 874–878

    Google Scholar 

  • Godfrey S (1975) Exercise-induced asthma — clinical, physiological, and therapeutic implications. J Allergy Clin Immunol 56: 1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Green ID, Nesaraja MS (1968) Water vapor pressure of end-tidal air of normals and chronic bronchitics. J Appl Physiol 24: 229–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Inbar O (1977) Exercise-induced asthma — physiological considerations. In: Zimri U (ed) Sports sciences. Assif. Wingate Institute, Israel, pp 147–160 (Hebrew)

    Google Scholar 

  • Inbar O, Alvarez DX, Lyons HA (1980) Exercise-induced asthma — a comparison between two modes of exercise stresses. Scand J Respir Dis (in press)

  • Ingelstedt S (1956) Studies on the conditioning of air in the respiratory tract. Acta Oto Laryngol [Suppl] 131: 1–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Josenhans WT, Melville GN, Ulmer WT (1969) Effects of humidity in inspired air on airways resistance and functional residual capacity in patients with respiratory diseases. Respiration 26: 435

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz RM, Whipp BJ, Heimlich EM, Wasserman K (1971) Exercise-induced bronchospasm, ventilation and blood gases in asthmatic children. J Allergy 47: 148–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange LS, Lange S, Echt M, Gauer OH (1974) Heart volume in relation to body posture and immersion in a thermo-neutral bath. Pflügers Arch 352: 219–226

    Google Scholar 

  • McArdle WD, Glaser RM, Magel JR (1971) Metabolic and cardiorespiratory response during free swimming and treadmill walking. J Appl Physiol 30: 733–738

    Google Scholar 

  • McNeil RS, Nairn JR, Millan JS, Ingram CG (1966) Exercise-induced asthma. Q J Med 35: 55–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Rebuck AS, Read J (1968) Exercise-induced asthma. Lancet II: 429–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Rennie DW, Prampero PD, Cerretelli P (1971) Effects of water immersion on cardiac output, heart rate, and stroke volume of man at rest and during exercise. Med Sport (Turin) 24: 223–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Seaton A, Davies G, Gasiano D, Hughes RO (1969) Exercise-induced asthma. Br Med J III: 556–558

    Google Scholar 

  • Shturman-Ellstein R, Zeballos RJ, Buckley JM, Souhrada JF (1978) The beneficial effect of nasal breathing on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Am Rev Resp Dis 118: 65–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Simonsson BG, Skoogh BE, Ekstrom-Jodal B (1972) Exercise-induced airways constriction. Thorax 27: 169–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Strauss RH, McFadden ER Jr, Ingram RH Jr, Deal CE, Jaeger JJ (1978) Influence of heat and humidity on the airway obstruction induced by exercise in asthma. J Clin Invest 61: 433–440

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinstein RE, Anderson JA, Kvale P, Sweet L (1976) Effects of humidification on exercise-induced asthma. Presented at the thirty-second annual meeting of the american academy of allergy, March

  • Williams M, Zohman LR (1960) Cardiopulmonary function in bronchial asthma. A comparison with chronic pulmonary emphysema. Am Rev Resp Dis 81: 173–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeballos RJ, Shturman-Ellstein R, McNally JF Jr, Hirsch JE, Souhrada JF (1978) The role of hyperventilation in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Am Rev Resp Dis 118: 877–884

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Research and Sports Medicine, Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports, Wingate Post, Israel

    Omri Inbar, Raffy Dotan, Ronald A. Dlin, Ittai Neuman & Oded Bar-Or

  2. Department of Pediatric Allergy, Hasharon Hospital, Israel

    Omri Inbar, Raffy Dotan, Ronald A. Dlin, Ittai Neuman & Oded Bar-Or

Authors
  1. Omri Inbar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Raffy Dotan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ronald A. Dlin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ittai Neuman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Oded Bar-Or
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported in part by the Sports and Physical Education Authority, Ministry of Education and Culture, Israel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Inbar, O., Dotan, R., Dlin, R.A. et al. Breathing dry or humid air and exercise-induced asthma during swimming. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 44, 43–50 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421762

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421762

Key words

Search

Navigation