Do sports result in asthmatic status?

Asthmatic athletes have first been considered as examples of personal achie vement despite adverse health impairment. Mere recently, several reports cl early delineated a significantly high prevalence of asthma symptoms and bro nchial hyperreactivity in highly trained and extremely fit subjects. The ac hievements in understanding both the pathophysiology of asthma and the mech anisms of exercise-triggered asthma make it possible to recognize how extre me training may contribute to the inflammatory; remodelling of airway mucos a. The contribution of irritant conditions has been unveiled as, e.g., ozon e pollution, breathing extremely dry (cold) air, or the chlorine in swimmin g pools, Personal factors such as an infant or childhood history of airway symptoms and atopic status also appear to be determinant. These data should be useful in better delineating the conditions of the beneficial/adverse e ffects of athletic activities, which may prove useful not only to athletes but also to a large number of people who just want to improve their health or their quality of life through sports. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.