What can we learn from asthma in elite athletes?

Why more asthma in athletes?

Little was understood about why athletes would have more problems with asthma than the ordinary population, and suspicions grew that some athletes might be declaring themselves asthmatic out of a belief that inhaled β₂ agonists, the bronchodilator drugs used to prevent and relieve symptoms, could enhance their performance.

In 2001, the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission introduced clinical tests before authorising each athlete to use inhaled β₂ agonists. The International Olympic Committee said its concern was for the health of the athletes, and although testing did not bring the numbers down substantially it did expose the need for much closer attention to the problem—some had been misdiagnosed and others had asthma without realising it.

Asthma remains the most common health problem among elite athletes. So why do so many athletes have it? And do the drugs they use to control it affect their performance?

Certain facts are known: asthma symptoms are most often provoked by intense exertion over long periods and …