Which feature indicates exercise-induced asthma is not adequately controlled?

Which feature indicates exercise-induced asthma is not adequately controlled?

• A. Shortness of breath not relieved by bronchodilator.
• B. Breathlessness improves after a dose of bronchodilator.
• C. Normal peak expiratory flow.
• D. No wheeze during exercise.

Answer: (A)

In exercise-induced asthma, a sign of inadequate control is that the shortness of breath during or after exercise does not respond to a bronchodilator. A rescue inhaler should quickly relieve bronchoconstriction; when breathlessness persists despite its use, it suggests that airway inflammation or hyperreactivity isn’t being adequately managed and may require reviewing controller therapy, adherence, and triggers. Breathlessness that improves after a bronchodilator indicates a good treatment response, normal peak expiratory flow suggests stable airflow, and no wheeze during exercise can occur even when symptoms are controlled or may be misleading, so these do not point to poor control as clearly as persistent symptoms unrelieved by a bronchodilator.

In exercise-induced asthma, a sign of inadequate control is that the shortness of breath during or after exercise does not respond to a bronchodilator. A rescue inhaler should quickly relieve bronchoconstriction; when breathlessness persists despite its use, it suggests that airway inflammation or hyperreactivity isn’t being adequately managed and may require reviewing controller therapy, adherence, and triggers.

Breathlessness that improves after a bronchodilator indicates a good treatment response, normal peak expiratory flow suggests stable airflow, and no wheeze during exercise can occur even when symptoms are controlled or may be misleading, so these do not point to poor control as clearly as persistent symptoms unrelieved by a bronchodilator.