According to new research, vigorous sex can cause an asthma attack in people with chronic lung disease, much like strenuous exercise.
Dr. Ariel Leung, chief internal medicine resident at Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, California, and study author, stated that there is a shortage of recent literature on the prevalence of sexual activity manifesting as exercise-induced asthma.
This might be the case because discussing sex with your doctor isn’t always the easiest thing to do.
“Allergists are placed in a position where they can improve their patients’ quality of life and even their marriages,” Leung said. “When sexual intercourse-induced asthma is properly identified and treated.”
She pointed out that vigorous sex is like walking up two flights of stairs regarding the risk of having an asthma attack.
The same precautions that prevent asthma attacks while exercising can also help prevent an asthma attack brought on by sex.
Leung advised patients to use their short-acting beta agonist inhaler 30 minutes before engaging in sexual activity to avoid an asthma attack. Contrary to what some patients may believe, nothing is more romantic than taking care of yourself and avoiding having your partner witness an asthma attack.
The symptoms of an asthma attack, such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, are brought on by inflammation that constricts the airways. It can be controlled but not cured.
A healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and eating well can also aid in preventing asthma symptoms, according to Leung, and taking medications as prescribed.
Visit your allergist immediately if your asthma symptoms don’t improve despite your current treatment, she advised. You might need a controller medication to keep your asthma under better control.
For the new study, the researchers used keywords like “sexual intercourse,” “honeymoon asthma,” “sexual behavior and allergy,” and “allergic reaction” to search the medical literature for articles on sex as a trigger for asthma attacks.
They didn’t find much other than a few case studies. However, they discovered more studies on the possibility of allergic reactions and asthma attacks brought on by semen or latex condoms.
The study was presented on Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky, at a meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI). Until they are published in a peer-reviewed journal, findings presented at medical conferences should be considered preliminary.
Dr. Jonathan Romeo, an allergist in Raleigh, North Carolina, and chair of the ACAAI’s Asthma Committee, noted little research on sex as an asthma trigger.
This connection is not unexpected, he said.
Romeo, who was not involved in the new study, stated that any physical activity could bring on asthma attacks.
He suggested talking to your partner about possible triggers, such as sex if you have asthma.
Talk to your allergist about what else you can do if the attacks continue despite the use of your conventional prevention and control therapies, Romeo advised. Most people gloss over the subject because it is so sensitive, but talking openly with your allergist can be beneficial.
