Abstract des Autors

In competitive speed skating, the 1500 m in particular can be considered as extremely strenuous. Normal athletes then complain of what is called the '1500 m cough' which is associated with coughing, mucous production and chest tightness. In order to investigate possible mechanisms behind these asthma-like reactions in eleven adult athletes from the Dutch national speed skating team and eight children from a regional team, peak expiratory flow rates (PEF) were measured directly after, and 3, 10, 20, 90 and 120 minutes after a 1500 m race in a competitive situation. Moreover, in the majority of the volunteers the daily variation in PEF was estimated. A significant decrease in PEF was found at 10, 90 and 120 minutes in Calgary (Canada) and at 90 and 120 min in the Hague for the adults and at 90 minutes in Utrecht for the children. These decreases could not be explained by the daily PEF variations and they show a possible slight early, but certainly a slight late bronchoconstrictive reaction. Although an interpretation as in exercise-induced asthma cannot be excluded, vagal reactions causing coughing, mucus production and also slight bronchial narrowing seem to be a more plausible explanation. Verf.-Referat