With the Olympic fever now in full swing in London, there is less thought about hay fever, allergies and asthma. But in discussion with one of the Olympic team medical advisors I was amazed to learn that up to 80% of Olympic athletes suffer with allergies, rhinitis, vocal cord dysfunction and exercise induced asthma induced by their sports. This is in comparison to a 40% incidence for the general population having some form of allergy such as asthma, rhinitis, eczema or food allergy. It has been shown that intensive exercise raises levels of IgE which is the allergy controlling antibody. Heavy endurance exercise and training in unfavourable environments also causes pro-inflammatory changes in athlete’s lungs with 56% footballers showing evidence of exercise induced bronchoconstriction. Sportsmen and women with allergies affected in this way include runners, cyclists, swimmers and skiers.
World Allergy Organisation WAO tells more.
