The impact of a heat and moisture exchange mask on respiratory symptoms and airway response to exercise in asthma.

ABSTRACT: Respiratory symptoms, including cough, are prevalent in individuals with asthma when exercising. This study investigates whether a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) face mask is effective in modulating exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and post-exercise cough in a cold, dry environment in individuals with asthma. Twenty-six participants diagnosed with asthma (20 males, 6 females) completed three cycling exercise challenges at 8°C and 24% relative humidity in a randomised order. Participants wore either an HME mask (MASK), sham mask (SHAM), or no mask (CONT). Following a 3-min warm-up, participants completed 6-min cycling at 80% peak power output. Before and after exercise, maximal flow-volume loops were recorded. Post-exercise cough was monitored with a Leicester Cough Monitor (LC

SUBMITTER: Jackson AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7401317 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature