Enhancement of Exercise-Induced Asthma by Cold Air.

摘要

To study the possibility that inhaling cold air accentuates the bronchoconstrictor response to exercise in asthma, eight subjects exercised while breathing air at ambient or subfreezing temperatures. On a separate day, cold air was breathed at rest so as to isolate the effects of this stimulus. Pulmonary mechanics were measured before and after each experiment. In all subjects acute bronchoconstriction followed the control exercise challenge. With cold-air breathing, however, the magnitude of the response was markedly enhanced. Residual volume increased 158% more than it did previously, and specific conductance and one-second forced expiratory volumes changed an additional 85 and 100%, respectively. The effects of cold air at rest were very small. The results demonstrate a positive interaction of two common naturally occuring stimuli in the induction of asthmatic attacks, and constitute objective verification of a frequent clinical complaint. (Author)