Exercise & Breathing Performance Center │ National Jewish Health

At the National Jewish Health Exercise & Performance Breathing Center in Denver, Colorado, we diagnose and treat exercise-related breathing conditions, including exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) and vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). We help teens, adults, casual walkers and professional athletes. We can help anyone who has breathing issues during exercise.

Thousands of patients have come to our center from across the country each year. Our renowned experts offer highly efficient and effective treatments. Personalized treatment plans help patients quickly get back to exercising to their fullest ability. We also help athletes improve performance.

My name is Lexi Began. I'm 16. I like running, especially coming downhill. It kind of makes me feel like I'm flying. My identity definitely was as a runner until the pain started. In the races I'd make it a mile or two before the pain would start with this tingling in my arms. It was a severe burning pain in my stomach. By the time I had to drop out I was usually in tears. The doctors couldn't tell me what was going on. They had a few suggestions.

We did a lot of testing. They had no idea or the test results came back negative. There was one doctor who pretty much told me it was all in my head. You kind of start to believe it. It was a tough time. It's kind of hard to look back on considering. I was like really depressed and I didn't really want to. I don't really want to keep on living. My coach saw an article on the Daily Camera and he sent us an email saying do you think it could be this VCD thing? During VCD or vocal cord dysfunction attacks the vocal cords partially or totally close causing terrifying shortness of breath. So when we brought Lexi in we were trying to recreate what was happening in real life. When Lexi's throat was closing it was tremendously difficult to breathe and then downstream of that as she started to breathe faster and faster some of those other symptoms were popping up like the chest pain. It gets to the end and she is spent and he looked ecstatic and he said I think we're gonna be able to help your daughter. I'm confident. I'm confident. We walked out and she just turns and she's bawling. She's like mom I might have an answer.

They might have the answer and it was like somebody gave me my kid back you know. She raced the open race and she raced I think it was 330 girls and she took fifth. She hadn't even been able to finish a race and now she took fifth. For our family you have changed our lives and you have given my daughter hope and her smile has returned and from the bottom of our heart we sincerely thank you. My hope kind of soared. Maybe I could have that dream that I've always hoped for. National Jewish Health has got me back on track. I can't wait for the next season.

Exercise & Performance Breathing Center Highlights

A comprehensive evaluation for exercise-related breathing issues
Advanced exercise and pulmonary testing – we are one of the few centers in the world that can perform the continuous laryngoscopy during exercise diagnostic procedure
Ages treated include teens to older adults and athletes of all levels
Multispecialty team approach – pulmonologists, physical therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and other specialists as needed
Multiday program for out-of-state patients
One of the oldest and largest pulmonary physiology services laboratories in the nation
National Jewish Health invented treatments – therapeutic laryngoscopy during exercise and the Olin EILOBI breathing techniques
Onsite speech therapy and physical rehabilitation services
Patient education is individualized for each patient
Therapy to overcome related medical, emotional and psychological barriers to physical activity

Personalized Medicine and Care

From diagnosis to treatment and teaching you to self-manage your condition, all of our care is personalized to you. Our diagnostic testing is focused on you and your activity level. This testing may include diagnosing or ruling out asthma.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
Continuous laryngoscopy during exercise
Therapeutic laryngoscopy during exercise
Exercise-induced asthma treadmill testing
Eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation for exercise-induced asthma

Individualized patient education is a key element of treatment. Our hands-on and age-specific education is tailored for each patient. Our team includes specialists in speech therapy to help you learn breathing techniques to use during exercise. And our behavioral health providers can help you learn to reframe stressful thoughts around exercise into positive grow-oriented affirmations. Your treatment plan is specific to your fitness or athletic goals. Whether you are an athlete or coach, an active older adult or a teen, we can teach you to breathe through vocal cord dysfunction, EILO or other exercise and breathing issues.

Doctors

Aspen Christen, MS, CCC-SLP
Elizabeth M. Fan, PA-C
Jenna Federico, MS, CCC-SLP
Cori Fratelli, MSN, FNP-C
Laurie A. Manka, MD
Amy O'Connell, MS, CCC-SLP
J. Tod Olin, MD, MSCS
Kevin Rurak, MD
Conner Vergoz, MA, CCC-SLP
Stacey Wall, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC

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Reasons to Choose National Jewish Health

The leading respiratory hospital in the nation and the only one devoted fully to the treatment of respiratory and related illnesses
Ranked #1 or #2 in Pulmonology by U.S. News & World Report for 26 consecutive years
Ranked in the top 5% of hospitals in the nation by HCAHPS
Physicians consistently recognized among the best in the nation by multiple services, including Best Doctors in America and Castle Connolly
Among the top 6% of organizations funded for research by the NIH, providing patients access to hundreds of active clinical trials
124-year history of focus on care, research and education serving patients from around the world with lung, heart, immune and related disorders

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Nationally Recognized Expertise

Our experts developed the first multispecialty treatment program for vocal cord dysfunction involving pulmonologists, speech-language pathologists and other experts – published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1983.
National Jewish Health is named a top hospital in Pulmonology by U.S. News & World Report.
Articles written by our physician-scientists and researchers are regularly published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including many of the most influential publications such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, Pediatric Pulmonology, European Respiratory Journal, Journal Voice, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America and more.
Our experts are often invited to present at national and international conferences where physicians gather to learn about the latest advancements in medicine.

Benefit from the Latest Research

Our physician-scientists and researchers have long been leaders in vocal cord dysfunction and exercise-related breathing research that improve patient lives. This research includes:

Adding to the body of knowledge about EILO and VCD
Developing diagnostic tests
Identifying and developing new treatments
Creating studies to better address the quality of life for patients with exercise-related breathing difficulties

Clinical Trials & Research Studies

National Jewish Health offers many clinical trials and research studies for vocal cord dysfunction, EILO and other breathing issues. Our research coordinators can help determine which studies may be right for you.

Clinical Trials

Make an Appointment

Physicians, coaches, parents, athletes and anyone who needs help breathing better during exercise, please email us directly. We will consult with you about your situation and decide how to proceed.

Contact

Treatment Locations

National Jewish Health Main Campus

Exercise & Performance Breathing Center Highlights

Personalized Medicine and Care

Doctors

Clinical Trials

Reasons to Choose National Jewish Health

Nationally Recognized Expertise

Benefit from the Latest Research

Clinical Trials & Research Studies

Make an Appointment

Treatment Locations

National Jewish Health Main Campus