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What Is Bronchospasm?
Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, RN on November 6, 2018
— Written by Stephanie Watson
Overview
Bronchospasm is a tightening of the muscles that line the airways
(bronchi) in your lungs. When these muscles tighten, your airways narrow.
v Narrowed airways don’t let as much air come in or go out of your lungs.
This limits the amount of oxygen that enters your blood and the amount of
carbon dioxide that leaves your blood.
Symptoms of bronchospasm
When you have Abronchospasm,
DVERTISEMENT your chest feels tight, and it can be hard
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Causes of bronchospasm
Any swelling or irritation in your airways can cause bronchospasm. This
condition commonly affects people with asthma.
cold weather
smoke inhalation from a fire
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You may have lung function tests to measure how well your lungs work.
These tests may include the following:
Chest X-ray. Your doctor will use this to look for pneumonia or
other signs of infection.
CT scan. This test uses X-rays to look for problems in your lungs.
Treating bronchospasm
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Your doctor may treat your bronchospasm with medicines that widen your
airways and help you breathe easier, including:
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Preventing bronchospasm
Here are a few things you can do to prevent bronchospasm:
Warm up for 5 to 10 minutes before you exercise, and cool down for
5 to 10 minutes
A D V E R T Iafterward.
SEMENT
If you have allergies, don’t exercise when the pollen count is high.
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Exercise indoors on very cold days. Or wear a scarf over your nose
and mouth when you go outside.
If you smoke, ask your doctor for advice to help you quit. Stay away
from anyone who is smoking.
Article resources
v FEEDBACK:
How to Treat Asthma Triggered by Cold Weather
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11/19/2018 Bronchospasm: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
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