8 percent of Olympians have asthma

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among athletes at the Olympic Games, a new study says.

About 8 percent of Olympic athletes have asthma or one of its symptoms, a narrowing of the airways, the study found.

The study analyzed information from athletes at the last five summer and winter Olympic Games, from 2002 to 2010. It identified athletes who took inhaled beta-2 agonists, an asthma drug.

The condition was most common among athletes who took part in endurance sports, said study researcher Kenneth Fitch, of the University of Western Australia.