There are over 10,500 athletes representing 205 delegations for the Paris Olympics 2024. According to experts, the world’s most highlighted event is expected to literally take the breath away from most sportspersons, who may suffer from a chronic condition: asthma.

A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science Sports says between 15-20 per cent of Olympic athletes have asthma and around 80 per cent of endurance sport athletes are affected by exercise-induced bronchoconstriction or EIB – also known as exercise-induced asthma.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects people of all ages. Caused by inflammation and muscle tightening around the airways, the condition can make it hard for you to breathe. According to the World Health Organisation, more than 455,000 deaths attributed to asthma were linked to the condition worldwide.

According to doctors, athletes who participate in the Olympics undergo a grueling training and practice regime, which involves high endurance exercise, which can trigger symptoms in nine out of 10 people with asthma.

Asthma and Lung UK, a non-profit organization says the condition can also have a similar effect on those without pre-diagnosed asthma. "If you're an elite athlete, you're twice as likely to experience an asthma-related condition than you are if you were just a member of the general population," John Dickinson, a Professor in Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Kent told Euronews Health.

Experts say when you exercise, ventilation rates go high to help you breathe properly. However, a lot of air is also inhaled through our mouth, and by the time it gets into the lungs, it becomes extremely dry – as it has not been filtered and warmed. It leads to airways becoming dehydrated and inflamed – causing asthma attacks.

According to doctors, endurance athletes who practice in cold air, like cross-country skiers, professional cyclists, and track runners are more susceptible to these attacks.

A study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has said swimmers have the highest occurrence of asthma when compared to other water sports. It happens because of the presence of significant amounts of chlorine byproducts on the surface of the pool, which irritates the lungs.

Doctors say athletes participating in the Olympics and various other sporting events must use their inhalers during the Games but must be extremely careful about their type and dosage. Beta-2 agonists that help in relaxing airway muscles are mostly prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Also, one of the best ways to ease exercise-induced asthma includes taking proper prevention and care. According to experts, EIA symptoms peak after 10-15 minutes of exercise and resolve within 30-90 minutes. Some easy to ease symptoms, include:

Always make sure to do some warming-up exercises for around 10-15 minutes to prevent tightening of your chest. Slowly, you can increase the intensity as well

Always make sure to breathe through your nasal cavity as it helps to warm and humidify the air before it enters your lungs

Always make sure to take short breaks in between your exercises to breathe properly.

Most people who have asthma have pollution or pollen as triggers, so if you can, make sure to practice indoors 0 especially when the weather is cold and dry

Always end your workout and practice with a cool-down session after exercise to help slow the change of air temperature in your lungs.