sports induced asthma?

[rachelh]

Does anyone have any experience with sports induced asthma?

As a teenager, I remember thinking that I had it but I don’t fully remember what the outcome was. I may have received an inhaler from my doctor but never used it – for some reason I can’t remember exactly.

I am beginning to think maybe I should see a doctor about it now but it’s not so bad and I don’t want to seem like a hypochondriac. I am currently about 6 pounds over my goal weight which is probably even a few pounds under my bodies ideal weight so I am not extremely overweight (which I would think would be a factor in breathlessness while working out.)

I have been doing the C25K for months now – I was really consistent about it in the beginning and then my partner kept on standing me up, DH had appendicitis, and a bunch of Jewish holidays kind of set me off track but I am back at it now. My issue is the total lack of consistency with the workouts – sometimes I can go out and run 25-30 minutes with minimal feelings of discomfort – yes, I need to push myself but I can do it. More often than not though, I go out and run barely 10 minutes and I can hardly breathe and just need to stop. I have been able to do other types of exercise with minimal (if any issues) issues though - zumba, kickboxing, 30 day shred etc. I have not gone swimming in years but I know if I did, I would not be able to do more than a few laps without getting out of breath. I remember that as a teenager when I was in great shape I was not able to complete more than a few laps without getting out of breath.

With all that said, I am really not sure what the problem is. Does anyone have any BTDT with sports induced asthma? Or are there some people that just cannot do certain types of exercise?

[lizzywednesday]

I have an asthma diagnosis from 11 years ago; I was diagnosed shortly after Sept. 11th happened, so I'm starting to question whether the diagnosis was spot-on or a symptom of other issues going on in my life at the time.

I found that mine acted up if I were under stress, but it got better as I got more fit, but, again, it was not an exercise-induced diagnosis. This surprised my doctor, but it was the truth for me.

However -

(1) Yes, exercise-induced asthma is real. If you had a diagnosis, you might want to go back to a doc for another rescue-inhaler so if you're out on a run and have an attack, you'll be able to calm your breathing. In a pinch, a small cup of black coffee will do the same thing.

(2) What kind of weather aggravates it most? I find I'm worst off in heat & humidity, like we've been having lately.

(3) What time of day are you trying to run? Did you know that certain times of day are actually WORSE for allergies and asthma due to ozone, pollen and pollution levels? Early in the morning is best for the lowest pollen count.

Good luck!

[Twoboos]

I have the same thing, some days I can go out and do a run, and some days it feels like I have a brick on my chest.

I have been suspecting exercise induced asthma (I think it was suggested by a friend who is a trainer and has asthma). I found an inhaler I had gotten for a really bad bronchitis issue, and started using that before the run. I do MUCH better on the days I use it.

The prescription one has run out/expired, so I'm thinking of just getting an OTC one.

It might be worth looking into! Or just getting the inhaler and giving it a try.

[Katigre]

Exercise-induced asthma is fairly common. I have dealt with it in the past. What you need to do is see a dr. (to make sure nothing else is wrong), get an inhaler, and then use it *preventatively* before you work out each time. This dilates your airways so that you can exercise with normal lung capacity.

It will be less effective if you wait until you are out of breath vs. if you use it before the strenuous activity.

[NCGrandma]

The prescription one has run out/expired, so I'm thinking of just getting an OTC one.

It might be worth looking into! Or just getting the inhaler and giving it a try.

I don't think there are any OTC asthma inhalers currently on the market (unless someone has more recent info). The main/only brand of OTC asthma inhaler -- Primatene -- was taken off the market the end of last year. At the same time, many brands of Rx albuterol were also taken off the market. This was because of the CFC propellants they used (which had adverse environmental effects). The currently-available Rx albuterol inhalers use HFA propellants. When I checked recently, none of these were the cheap generics formerly available, so even the Rx ones may be a bit more expensive than they were.

Sorry for a slightly off-topic comment ... But I agree with PPs: see your doctor.

[hellokitty]

Are you running on a treadmill or outside? I ask, since the times when you run longer times w/o feeling winded may just be that you are running slower and other times when you are out of breath (don't know if you are tracking your speed or not with a device), you may be running faster. I say this, since, I have the same problem as you do, BUT it was pointed out to me by an experienced runner that if I was too out of breath while running (on a track), that she wanted me to slow down. She said not to worry about speed. While I think that exercise induced asthma could definitely be something to look into, I just wanted to throw out the rate of speed you are running as possibly being a factor as well. Esp since you mentioned that you can do other things like zumba w/o getting winded. So, what I have learned recently is that if I'm just feeling too out of breath, that I'm pushing myself to run too fast and that I really need to slow down. During really hot weather, like what we are getting right now, they recommend that you drop your pace quite a bit as the temp rises. Here is a copy and paste from Jeff Galloway's website:

http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/tips_archives/seasonal.html

"Account for Heat
The hot and sticky days of summer are here. Make sure that you are making some adjustments in your running. Most runners begin to slow down at 55 degrees and start suffering at 65 degrees. Of course, the body can adapt to heat stress and push the threshold up a bit, but you usually can't run as fast on a 75 degee day as on a 45 degree one. High humidity is also a major problem. It's like a wet blanket; it doesn't allow much evaporation or perspiration and your body heat builds up.
If you try to run too hard in hot or humid conditions you'll hit "the wall" sooner than expected. Trying to maintain a goal pace in heat is like going out too fast early in the race. Temperatures generally increase hour by hour; therefore you must adjust your pace for the temperature expected at the end of the race.
Adjusting Race Pace for Heat: Estimated temperature at finish - Slower than goal pace - 8 min mile becomes...
55-60 degrees - 1% - 8:05
60-65 degrees - 3% - 8:15
65-70 degrees - 5% - 8:25
70-75 degrees - 7% - 8:35
75-80 degrees - 12% - 8:58
80-85 degrees - 20% - 9:35
Above 85 degrees - Forget it... run for fun"

[Binkandabee]

I have asthma that is exercise induced. It is VERY real. I've been dealing with it for 30 years now.

I find that I am worst when the exercise I am doing is vigorous and continuous...like running. I can handle bike rides, walks, etc. but if I run, I feel an attack come on. It's more than me being out of breath or winded, though...it's literally a struggle to get air into my lungs. My chest tightens and I start to wheeze. It feels a bit like trying to breath through a tiny s straw...like a coffee stir straw. If it's cold outside....any form of exercise can cause an attack. Cold weather makes it worse all around.

What I do is use my rescue inhaler in advance and keep it with me when I am working out. It stays in my purse at all times. The preventive puff or two helps a lot!

[Twoboos]

I don't think there are any OTC asthma inhalers currently on the market (unless someone has more recent info). The main/only brand of OTC asthma inhaler -- Primatene -- was taken off the market the end of last year. At the same time, many brands of Rx albuterol were also taken off the market. This was because of the CFC propellants they used (which had adverse environmental effects). The currently-available Rx albuterol inhalers use HFA propellants. When I checked recently, none of these were the cheap generics formerly available, so even the Rx ones may be a bit more expensive than they were.

Sorry for a slightly off-topic comment ... But I agree with PPs: see your doctor.

Thanks for the info, I had no idea they were taken off the market! I think mine was a sample size one from the Dr.

[Globetrotter]

I have to use albutol before aerobic exercise, and it makes ALL the difference for me. As a child, I struggled with running due to undiagnosed asthma, resulting in a hatred for running :(

[boogiemomz]

I have asthma that is exercise induced. It is VERY real. I've been dealing with it for 30 years now.

I find that I am worst when the exercise I am doing is vigorous and continuous...like running. I can handle bike rides, walks, etc. but if I run, I feel an attack come on. It's more than me being out of breath or winded, though...it's literally a struggle to get air into my lungs. My chest tightens and I start to wheeze. It feels a bit like trying to breath through a tiny s straw...like a coffee stir straw. If it's cold outside....any form of exercise can cause an attack. Cold weather makes it worse all around.



:yeahthat:, and a lot of what you describe, OP, sounds just like me too. Ever since I was an adolescent, trying to do any type of repetitive, high intensity exercise, I would come out wheezing, gasping for breath. Like you, I can do aerobics, zumba, other sorts of varied activities with no problems, but running has always been an issue, and occasionally swimming too if I pushed it as hard as I could for longer than a lap or so. I got a rescue inhaler too, and I would use that occasionally before exercise and it helped some. I never really take it around with me though.

[rachelh]

Thanks all for the wonderful advice! I was actuslly thinking of keeping a log of every time I go jogging that details what time I went, what the temperature was, what the humidity was, etc.

Would I see a regular doctor for this or do I need to go to some sort of specialist? My issue is definitely not serious/life threatening but it bothers me that I can't do more.

[lizzywednesday]

You should be OK to go to a general practitioner/family doc for the general diagnosis. If they feel it's out of their league, a good doc will refer you to a pulmonologist.

I also think that the log is a brilliant idea - it helps you come up with a plan for treatment as well as tracking the patterns you're seeing in your symptoms.

[AnnieW625]

Yes it does exist.

I was diagnosed with this when I was 13 yrs. old because running was a big issue for me as I always out of breath, plus I was getting bronchitis fairly regularly.

My worst symptoms are mainly related to hay fever allergies, hot weather, and bad air quality. Smoke from wildfires has always been a trigger for me. I have to stay inside when there is a lot of ash in the air.

Even though it is much cheaper to live in the inland valleys of where we live I told DH that I would prefer not to live where there is bad air quality.