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. Hey Sam,
You are right they do use something similar for asthmatics and folks with Emphysema. But those disorders are actually an inability to EXHALE. They cant get ride of the carbon dioxide in their blood. I have never heard that asthmatics have better gas exchange than normal folks but I'm no expert so you may be right.
You are correct that the proportion of asthmatics in endurance sports is higher than in the normal population. "Sports induced" asthma is very common. Why that is I am not sure but I will put it out there that maybe the athlete feels, mistakenly, that the use of an inhaler will give him an edge. Very similar to why the powerlung is so enticing. It only takes a doctors prescription to be able to use an inhaler in pro cycling. We all look for that extra edge, even as amateurs, throw some money in there and we all know what happens.
That being said, if someone believes that an inhaler or a powerlung helps their performance, then it probably does. Even if the physiological benefits are non existent, the psychological benefits are important too.
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