September 3, 2009 - Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain has been diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma. The 31 year-old mountain biker from Quebec City first complained about respiratory problems at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and later at the 2009 MTB World Cup at Bromont on August 2 where she placed 13th. After undergoing many tests, Prémont learned last month that her forced expiratory volume at one second was well under the threshold level for the diagnosis. This diagnosis will allow her to use a bronchodilator (puffer) pump, but first she must complete the necessary paperwork at the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport to obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) certificate from the UCI.
Brochnodilators commonly contain salbutamol, also known by its trade name "Ventolin" in North America, used to combat acute asthma attacks and it's also protective against exercise-induced asthma. Some reports indicate that illicit use of salbutamol, by dilating the bronchial passages, could allow a cyclist to take more oxygen into the bloodstream, hence the need for TUEs.
"I am disappointed to learn that I have exercise-induced asthma, but the diagnosis helps me to understand what happened to me at the Olympics and at Bromont. This explains my breathing difficulties I have been having for a while at some competitions. On the positive side, this condition is easily treated. I just need to take some Ventolin just before a competition and I will be protected for four to six hours. I'm excited to know that my breathing problems should be behind me at the 2009 MTB Worlds," said Prémont. She'll be competing this Saturday in the Elite Women's XC at the MTB Worlds in Canberra, Australia.
Premont wrote the following on her blog at www.mhpremont.com:
Hello everyone...
I wanted to keep you posted about developments on my state of health....
After what took place in Bromont, I said I wanted to understand my breathing problems. So I met with a lung specialist two weeks ago that gave me a battery of tests including a test for asthma with methacholine. This one was negative but the doctor suspected exercise induced asthma relying on the clinical result as well as the parameters of the results. He then prescribed another test that I took this week.
I passed the test for Eucapnic Voluntary Hyperventilation (EVH) without any ambiguity, I have exercise induced asthma. My test showed a decrease in the FEV (Forced Expiratory Volume in one Second) of 28% which is significant. A decrease of 10% was necessary for the diagnosis of asthma in the effort to get the right to use a pump. The documents have been completed and sent to the CCES and the UCI.
I am a little disappointed to have asthma but at the same time relieved to understand what happened in the Olympics and Bromont, and more to explain my breathing difficulty while in competition. The positive side is that it responds to treatment very well. I will use Ventolin just before the competition and I will be protected for 4-6 hours.
I am really pumped for the upcoming World Championships now that I know that my breathing problems are behind me!
Thank you to everyone for your support and your encouragement.
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Photo: Chris Redden
Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain
Photo: Chris Redden
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