Swimming and Asthma: Differences between Women and Men

Abstract

Background and Aim. Asthma is common in endurance athletes including swimmers. Our aim was to study gender differences in asthma, allergy, and asthmatic symptoms in swimmers and investigate the effects of varying intensities of physical exercise on competitive swimmers with asthma. Methods. Three hundred highly trained swimmers (156 females and 144 males) were studied by a questionnaire. Their mean (±SD) ages were 17 ± 3 and 19 ± 3 years, and they had training history of 7 ± 2 and 7 ± 3 years in females and males, respectively. Gender differences in asthma, allergy, and respiratory symptoms were examined. Special attention was focused on asthmatic swimmers, their allergies and respiratory symptoms during swimming at different intensities. Results. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 19% for females and males. No gender differences in asthma or respiratory symptoms were found. Males reported allergies significantly more often than females (P = 0.007). Gender difference was found in respiratory symptoms among swimmers with physician-diagnosed asthma because females reported symptoms significantly more often (P = 0.017) than males. Asthmatic females also reported symptoms significantly more often at moderate intensity swimming (P = 0.003) than males especially for coughing. Discussion. Gender difference in prevalence of asthma was not found in swimmers. However, allergy was reported significantly more by male swimmers. Male swimmers with asthma reported significantly more cases having family history of asthma, which may be a sign of selection of asthma-friendly sport. Moderate intensity swimming seemed to induce significantly more symptoms especially coughing in asthmatic females.

Prevalence, age at onset, and risk factors of self‐reported asthma among Swedish adolescent elite cross‐country skiers

“…These observed sex differences are consistent with findings in the general population; among adolescents, asthma is more prevalent and more severe in females than in males, and among Swedes aged 16‐25 years, female sex is an independent predictor of asthma medication . In contrast, there are also studies among athletes where no significant sex differences regarding the prevalence of physician‐diagnosed asthma was found, and we have also recently published a study in which there were no sex differences in asthma prevalence among adolescent and adult elite Swedish orienteers . However, in the present study, female sex remained associated with asthma, also when adjusting for other risk factors, in the total study population but not in the skier group.…”

Airway obstruction in competitive swimmers

“…Half of the males with airway obstruction did not report symptoms at all. In recent study of competitive swimmers [14] there was found significant difference in reported symptoms between female and male swimmers. Females reported significantly more symptoms and also during lower intensity swimming than males [14].…”

“…In recent study of competitive swimmers [14] there was found significant difference in reported symptoms between female and male swimmers. Females reported significantly more symptoms and also during lower intensity swimming than males [14]. Results may suggest that females with lung function problem may have more symptoms during swimming and therefore may search for medical help and sufficient medication earlier than males.…”

Asthma is Different in Women

“…A higher rate of anxiety, excessive daytime sleepiness, and insomnia are reported among women with current asthma compared to men [103]. In line with this, physician-diagnosed asthma is equally prevalent among female and male swimmers (19 %), but women report more respiratory symptoms than men during swimming [104•]. Understanding and using strategies that target this gender-specific difference in disease response and symptom profiles may result in improved asthma related quality of life and health of asthmatic women [105].…”