Excersize Induced Asthma

Hi.  I'm Thomisa and am a 28 year old female.  I need to lose about 91 lbs. to get from 240 lbs to 149.  In 1998 I was discharged right after I joined the Army for having Reactive Airway Disease.  It wasn't until 2001, that I found out that it was asthma for a fact.  I was told that my asthma is excersise induced and that it usually flares up when I do stuff like cardio.  I've used this as a crustch in the past but I'm now determined to strenghthen my muscles in hopes that this will allow me to breath easier when I excersise.  Does anyone know how this asthma affects the oxygen or lack there of when I'm excersising?  Does it also affect my heart beat in terms meaning that since it's hard for me to breath, does my heart beat too fast to lose weight.  I don't know much info about it, any additional info will be welcome.

Hi Thomisa,

I have had exercise i asthma my whole life and ran track throughout High School and into college.  Just recent I started exercising with a trainer 7 days a week to get in better shape overall.  Exercise induced asthma makes it hard to breath when you are exercising.  I do a minimum of 4 miles a day on a thread-mill besides weight training.  To be able to do that I use an inhaler (Proventil) which is generically called albuterol.  Just two puffs and I am good for two hours.  It is used by asthmatics for emergencies or people like you and I with exercise induced asthma.  Not using something like that would make bringing oxygen into my lunges a burden, cause me to overexert, and raise my heart rate.  I would check with your doctor and see if this is a good option for you.  To lose weight I generally keep my heart rate in the 60-70% of max range.  85% of the calories burned in this range is fat.  To figure out your max heart rate subtract your age from 220.  Then figure out what 60 and 70% of that is and you have your range to work in to lose weight.  Above that range you start building muscle which is heavier than fat.  So if you can get your hands on something that measures % body fat you can tell if you just gained some muscle or fat.  Over time you may be able to do without the inhaler or like me, maybe not.  Visiting your doctor is also a great way to get some exercise advise.  At least it was for me.  Good luck.

I also have asthma, and it doesn't act up until i am exercising (running, jogging, etc.) I too am using albuterol and when i go for a run or jog at night i make sure to take it with me. When i started running at night, i would stop Every 2 miles or so and take a puff and i can continue running.  After a few days of doing so  it seemed as if my lungs were building up. I actually only take it with me now incase of an emergency. I don't need to stop and take it, but if i do feel it kicking in, i try to walk a little bit instead of using the inhaler. Why? Well one, i don't want to be getting an inhaler every month because i need it to run. and two, I don't want my lungs to be dependant on it. I don't know if that could happen, but its a sterioud i guess so it probably could. Definitely talk to your doctor about getting an inhaler and don't push yourself too hard. work your way up! good luck!