Nasal response after exercise in swimmers, runners and handball players (original) (raw)
Rhinology, 2010
The respiratory nasal effects of physical exercise have been extensively investigated; on the other hand there are no data regarding olfactory threshold modification after aerobic physical exercise. The present prospective study investigated the modifications in nasal respiratory flows and olfactory thresholds after controlled aerobic physical exercise in a cohort of 15 adult, healthy volunteers. The Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF), and the Sniffin’ Sticks olfactory threshold test were used for our determinations. The mean PNIF after physical exercise was significantly higher than the mean PNIF value found before physical exercise. Statistical analysis ruled out any significant difference between mean olfactory thresholds pre vs post physical exercise. These outcomes confirmed PNIF sensitivity and reliability also in determining the changes in nasal patency occurring after physical exercise. The active vasoconstriction of nasal mucosa associated with the reduction of blood flow t...
Nasal and lung function in competitive swimmers
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2009
Nasal and sinusal complaints are considered common among swimmers. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the nasal and bronchial functions, before and after swimming, and the relationship between nasal resistances and FEV1 in competitive swimmers. A group of 30 competitive swimmers were examined: spirometry and nasal respiratory tests were carried out before and after swimming. Moreover, both the competitive swimmers and the 150 visitors of a swimming pool were asked to complete a specific questionnaire. In this questionnaire, 18% of the population reported nasal-sinusal symptoms after swimming. The differences between nasal volumes and resistances before and after swimming were not statistically significant. Nasal patency increased or remained unchanged in 21/30 athletes. The variations in FEV1 were not statistically significant. In conclusion, results showed that swimming is able to increase nasal patency or to leave it unchanged. Temporary worsening of the nasal patency was ob...
SUMMARY Nasal and sinusal complaints are considered common among swimmers. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the nasal and bronchial functions, before and after swimming, and the relationship between nasal resistances and FEV1 in competitive swimmers. A group of 30 competitive swimmers were examined: spirometry and nasal respiratory tests were carried out before and after swimming. Moreover, both the competitive swimmers and the 150 visitors of a swimming pool were asked to complete a specifi c questionnaire. In this questionnaire, 18% of the population reported nasal-sinusal symptoms after swimming. The differences between nasal volumes and resistances before and after swimming were not statistically signifi cant. Nasal patency increased or remained unchanged in 21/30 athletes. The variations in FEV1 were not statistically signifi cant. In conclusion, results showed that swimming is able to increase nasal patency or to leave it un- changed. Temporary worsening of the nasal p...
Chapter 3. Exercise and airway physiology: interactions with immune and allergic responses
European Respiratory Monograph, 2005
Pulmonary ventilation (V9E) increases during exercise to meet metabolic needs . In particular, V9E increases proportionally to the CO 2 produced at muscular level, up to the point where lactic threshold (LT) is achieved. Above LT, V9E increases in excess to the CO 2 produced by the working muscles, because additional CO 2 is generated from the bicarbonate component of lactate isocapnic buffering. At higher work loads, a further increase in V9E occurs with a decrease in CO 2 in order to compensate for metabolic acidosis. In most normal individuals, exercise is terminated well below the maximum ventilation a subject can achieve voluntarily. This may not be the case in pulmonary disorders (either obstructive or restrictive) and in highly trained athletes, who may reach a V9E w200 L?min -1 at high-intensity exercise. The usual ventilatory response to exercise is for V9E to be dominated by an increase in tidal volume (VT) at low-to-moderate work loads, with respiratory frequency increasing only at high levels of exercise. This pattern, however, may vary among subjects and types of exercise, but it is also affected by lung size [2] or airway calibre or both. This chapter will first examine how changes in airway physiology may affect the pattern of the ventilatory response to exercise and performance. Therefore, the effects of exercise on airway calibre and their relationships to airway inflammation will be reviewed.
Heavy physical exercise decreases nitric oxide levels in the nasal airways in humans
Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 1997
A continuous production of nitric oxide (NO) takes place in human nasal airways. NO in the nasal airways is mainly derived from the paranasal sinuses. The factors that regulate NO synthesis in the upper airways are presently not known. We have investigated the effects of physical exercise on NO levels in the nasal airways. Nasal cavity NO levels were measured by chemiluminescence technique in five healthy non-smoking male subjects before, during and after 5 min of maximal exercise (245 W) on an ergometer cycle. In addition, in one subject NO levels were measured directly in the maxillary sinus during exercise. Nasal cavity NO levels were decreased by 47 % after only 1 min of exercise compared with the control situation. A maximal 76 % reduction was found at the end of the exercise period and thereafter NO levels slowly increased, reaching basal levels again in about 15-20 min. NO levels in the sinus decreased in a similar manner during exercise. The decrease in nasal cavity NO levels cannot be explained merely by dilution of nasal air due to changes in nasal cavity volume or increased ventilation. We conclude that the excretion of NO in the nasal airways is decreased acutely during heavy short term physical exercise.
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and respiratory symptoms in elite athletes
Allergy, 2003
Gudziol H, Temmel A, Owen CM, Seeber H, Pauli E, Hummel T. Multi-center investigation of 1036 subjects using a standardized method for the assessment of olfactory function combining tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2000;257:205-211. 5. Meltzer EO, Jalowayski AA, Orgel HA, Harris AG. Subjective and objective assessments in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: effects of therapy with mometasone furoate nasal spray.
The role of an internal nasal dilator in athletes
PubMed, 2019
The nasal valve area has the minimal cross-sectional area of the upper airways. Nasal dilators have been found able to improve sport performance in athletes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use an internal nasal dilator may be able to affect respiratory pattern in a group of athletes. The use of internal nasal dilator induced a significant reduction of fatigue perception (p=0.000) and was optimally accepted. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that Nas-air® is an internal nasal dilator able to reduce the fatigue perception and is preferred to external nasal dilator.
Exercise-Induced Rhinitis in Competitive Swimmers
American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, 2010
Background Elite swimmers are at increased risk of asthma, which has been related to chronic effects of pool chlorine environment. However acute effects of swimming on rhinitis remain unknown. Objective We aimed to assess the nasal response to exercise in competitive swimmers compared with competitive runners. Methods Measurements of nasal symptoms, peak nasal inspiratory flow, lung function, dyspnea, and of airway inflammation were obtained before and after a training session of 19 international-level swimmers and 13 professional runners. Exercise-induced rhinitis was defined as a fall in peak nasal inspiratory flow above 20% from baseline and atopy by positivity to skin-prick testing. Changes within groups were compared using paired t test and differences compared by analysis of covariance. Results Prevalence of exercise-induced rhinitis was similar between swimmers and runners, respectively 21% and 23%. Contrary to runners, swimmers experienced a decrease in nasal inspiratory flo...
Alterations in rhinosinusal homeostasis in a sportive population: our experience with 106 athletes
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2003
The aim of the present work was to analyse the alterations of rhino-sinusal physiology in 106 professional athletes (swimmers, skiers, boxers and runners) using objective rhinological methods. Every athlete underwent an accurate anamnesis, a complete objective ORL evaluation, an active anterior rhinomanometry, an acoustic rhinometry and an evaluation of mucociliary transport time (MCTt). Skiers were also submitted to a nasal decongestion test (NDT). In swimmers, the mean MCTt was 27.4± 4.97 min (normal value: 13±3 min; P<0.0001). The average MCTt for the skier group was 19.58±1.92 min (P< 0.0001); the mean value of total basal nasal resistance was 0.37±0.05 Pa/ml per s (normal value =0.25 Pa/ml per s; P<0.001). After NDT, total nasal resistance was 0.18± 0.02 Pa/ml per s. In the group of boxers, the total mean nasal resistance was 0.64±0.05 Pa/ml per s (P<0.001); the mean cross-sectional area at the nasal valve level was 0.57±0.04 cm 2 (normal value =0.55±0.05 cm 2) and at the inferior turbinate level 0.83±0.05 cm 2 (normal value =0.4± 0.04 cm 2 ; P<0.001); the TMC average time was 27.35± 2.21 min (P<0.0001). Finally, for the runners, the mean MCT time was 20.56±2.35 min (P<0.001). Knowing the alterations of the physiological nasal respiration is of extreme importance to develop a correct and timely therapeutic approach to be able to restore rhino-sinusal homeostasis. Athletes, in fact, need the earliest therapeutic aid in order to avoid the interference of prolonged rhino-sinusal alterations with their performance and also to avoid a more serious clinical situation concerning the inferior airways.
Airway Cell Composition at Rest and after an All-out Test in Competitive Rowers
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2004
Purposes: This study was designed to assess: a) whether rowing affects airway cell composition, and b) the possible relationship between the degree of ventilation during exercise and airway cells. Subjects and Methods: In nine young, nonasthmatic competitive rowers (mean age Ϯ SD: 16.2 Ϯ 1.0 yr), induced sputum samples were obtained at rest and shortly after an all-out rowing test over 1000 m (mean duration: 200 Ϯ 14 s), during which ventilatory and metabolic variables were recorded breath-by-breath (Cosmed K4b, Italy). Results: At rest, induced sputum showed prevalence of neutrophils (60%) over macrophages (40%); after exercise, total cell and bronchial epithelial cell (BEC) counts tended to increase. In the last minute of exercise, mean V E was 158.0 Ϯ 41.5 L•min Ϫ1 , and V O 2 •kg Ϫ1 62 Ϯ 11 mL•min Ϫ1. Exercise V E correlated directly with postexercise total cell (Spearman : 0.75, P Ͻ 0.05) and macrophage (: 0.82, P Ͻ 0.05) counts. A similar trend was observed for exercise V E and changes in BEC counts from baseline to postexercise (: 0.64, P ϭ 0.11). Exercise V E did not correlate with airway neutrophil counts at rest or after exercise. Expression of adhesion molecules by airway neutrophils, macrophages, and eosinophils decreased after the all-out test. Conclusion: Similar to endurance athletes, nonasthmatic competitive rowers showed increased neutrophils in induced sputum compared with values found in sedentary subjects. The trend toward increased BEC postexercise possibly reflected the effects of high airflows on airway epithelium. Airway macrophages postexercise were highest in rowers showing the most intense exercise hyperpnea, suggesting early involvement of these cells during exercise. However, the low expression of adhesion molecules by all airway cell types suggests that intense short-lived exercise may be associated with a blunted response of airway cells in nonasthmatic well-trained rowers.
Nasal symptoms, epithelial injury and neurogenic inflammation in elite swimmers
Rhinology journal, 2018
Background: A high burden of lower airway symptoms is found in elite swimmers. To what extent elite swimmers suffer from upper airway symptoms and how these associate with nasal inflammation is less clear. We here aimed to evaluate upper airway symptoms and nasal inflammation in elite athletes. Methodology: Elite swimmers, indoor athletes and age-matched controls were recruited. Upper airway symptoms were assessed by sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT)-22 questionnaire. Visual Analogue score (VAS) for nasal symptoms as well as neurogenic and inflammatory mediators in nasal fluid were assessed at baseline, immediately and 24-hours after sport-specific training. The effect of hypochlorite on nasal epithelial cells was evaluated in vitro. Results: Baseline SNOT-22 and VAS for nasal itch and impaired smell were significantly higher in swimmers compared to controls. Nasal substance P and uric acid levels were increased in elite swimmers 24-hours after swimming compared to baseline. In elite swimmers, uric acid levels 24-hours post-exercise correlated with baseline SNOT-22. As increased symptoms and inflammation were found in swimmers but not in indoor athletes, we hypothesized that hypochlorite exposure might be the underlying mechanism. In vitro, the highest dose of hypochlorite decreased nasal epithelial cell integrity and induced release of uric acid. Conclusion: Upper airway symptoms are frequently reported in elite swimmers. Intensive swimming resulted in a delayed increase of epithelial injury and neurogenic inflammation.