Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease among children and young adults. There are numerous triggers of asthma. In the physical education field (EIA) exercise induced asthma is a very important disease to understand and help maintain stability.
             Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes breathing difficult. During an attack, the linings of the bronchial tubes become inflamed and irritated causing mucus production and the constriction of surrounding muscles. These three factors cause a narrowing of the tubes blocking the amount of air into and out of the lungs. This disease cannot be cured but control and treatment will lessen the severity and frequency of attacks.
             The exact cause of asthma is unknown, but has been found to run in families. Persons with asthma may be supersensitive to many substances and environmental conditions that are normally harmless. Common triggers are allergens (pollen, molds, animal dander, dust, and dust mites), as well as irritants (smoke, fumes, and strong odors), exercise, stress, and changes in weather and temperature. Also a cold or flu, certain drugs, and food additives can be triggers.
             There are five classifications of asthma based on severity, 5. Severe persistent, which is when the symptoms are bad enough to limit daily activities, frequent nighttime symptoms also occur. This classification requires the most intensive treatment. 4. Moderate persistent is when symptoms occur every day and or cause night symptoms several times a week. 3. Mild persistent, is when symptoms occur several times a week and or occasionally at night. 2. Mild intermittent, which is when the symptoms occur about twice a week or less. Otherwise breathing is normal.
             The last and least severe is exercise-induced asthma (EIA), which means that the symptoms are generally limited to periods of sustained physical activity. When exercising vigorously for a few minutes or longer chest tightness, coughing an...