Exercise Related Asthma.

Fairly soon, I'm going to be allowed to swim again. I used to have terrible asthma, but after I improved my diet (and before my anorexia) it vastly improved. Except... I always wheeze when I exercise. Even swimming does it, though not as badly. I've been told that it's easily sorted by taking an inhaler in the morning, and again at night, on days you exercise, but I'd like to hear from others. Does anyone have trouble with this?

I have exercise induced asthma, too. I have to take 2 puffs before I exercise and then 20 minutes after if I need too. (and usually I need too.) At first it didn't work for me but it's getting better. I don't exercise often anymore, but I used too, it's worth getting an inhaler.

I have it too, or rather environmental that includes exercise. I actually use the pills, rather than the inhalers. I don't like some of the stuff that's in the inhalers, and am more often in a situation where I know when I'm going in harm's way and, since the pills last longer, I can time things better for when I suspect trouble will start. Inhailer still for the emergencies, though.

I have to say that (and take this with a huge grain of salt) it's the sort of thing it's good to push on. The lungs are like every other part of your body. They will adapt. I can't tell you how much better my asthma is now that I exercise regularly. However, it's a long term sort of fix, that takes a while to see results. But if you stick with it, it will happen.

I also have it.  All I do is use my albuterol inhalor one time immediately prior to any activity.  It seems to work very well for me.  My doctor told me I could use a steriod inhalor or other preventive inhalors on a daily basis but I'm not good at taking daily medications so I just go with the albuterol one.

me too.  i use my inhaler about five minutes before exercise, then again just before, and sometimes once after.  sometimes i forget, though, and as long as the air isn't too dry, i can usually run through the congestion. 

when i'm at home, though, where it's very dry (almost desert), forget it.

as i've got fitter, my lungs have gotten much better.  turns out asthma wasn't the whole problem ;)

I have had exercise induced asthma for years. For many of those years I thought that it was something I had to live with, and I would have to deal with the limitations accordingly. However, after 8 months of efficiently conditioning my body my asthma is nearly gone. I used to use my inhaler (two puffs) before each workout, afraid of what would happen if I didn't. Slowly, I took it down to one puff, and now I haven't used my inhaler in two months! I feel that my conditioning has strengthened by lungs and respiratory system, and trained myself to rely on only my lungs and conscious monitored breathing and not on an inhaler. For years people told me this and I never believed it: asthma is just as much mental as it is physical.  (This may not be true for everyone, but I know my story and this was a shocking realization for me). The most important thing is to not use asthma/inhalers as a crutch, and don't say you can't do something because you have asthma. I never thought I could be a runner, because even with my inhaler I could only run about 1/2 mile before giving up because of my breathing. Now I am up to four miles! Take the time to condition your lungs the right way by making them as strong and effective as possible and you will be amazed with how your body reacts.

I have exercise induced asthma as well.  If I feel like I need it I will take 2 puffs from my albuterol inhaler.  Sometimes I will use the inhaler before exercise sometimes after depending on how I feel that day. On rare occasions I will use both before and after.  It just depends on if I feel I need it.

vickihedin: It's nice to hear that with continued exercise I might eventually get to where I don't have to use it at all.

Oh, gosh. All these replies are such a relief! Thank you. I haven't been able to exercise beyond walking as my doctor has told me not to, but now I'm closer to a healthy range she's going to let me swim a couple of times a week. My asthma was a lot better while I still exercised regularly, but I think it's going to catch me when I start up again! I'll be taking my inhaler to the gym, then! Thanks again!

It also depends on the temperature of the water.  If you are not in a heated pool, the cold water (later on this year) will make it very bad.  My daughter used to get exercise-induced attacks when the pool got cold in October & November, so we switched to a heated pool.  She quit having the attacks. 

I used to get exercise-induced attacks, too.  but I just completed my first 5K.  I didn't know if I could do it or not, but now I feel unstoppable.  It took me 8 months to go from 1/2 mile to 3.1 miles, but I am so much better now I don't ever want to stop running.

I have it but it depends on the exercise and how out of shape I am.  Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can trigger an asthma attack for me, but not if I've been going regularly and am in good shape.  That's the only form of exercise that is strenuous enough for me to trigger an attack unless I already have a sinus infection or bronchitis or pneumonia.  Even then, most of the time I have no issues, but a week of slacking and I'm almost guaranteed to have an attack.  I've found that if I do the warm up on my own a couple of times a week it usually helps head of an attack.  20 pushups, 20 situps, 20 bicycles, 20 squats, 20 dives, 20 leg presses and 20 of anything else I can think of to throw in.  For a total of about 8 minutes it's better for me than an inhaler although I do take my inhaler just in case.

Original Post by freedomfrom:

 

I have to say that (and take this with a huge grain of salt) it's the sort of thing it's good to push on. The lungs are like every other part of your body. They will adapt.

I don't have strictly exercise induced asthma, I just have asthma which is sometimes affected by exercise.

I completely agree with freedomfrom. I have never taken my puffer before physical activity to try to head off an attack. If it begins to act up, I try to work through it rather than take my puffer at the first sign of a wheeze. Many times it works, but you really have to know your body and how far to push it in order to do so. I wouldn't recommend trying this if you haven't had asthma for very long.

If it really hampers your daily lifestyle so that you can't comfortably exercise, maybe you should talk to your doctor about a daily preventative steroid puffer.

I agree with queenmedia: have you talked to your doctor about some preventative inhalers?  I've been asthmatic for years and I'm also a respiratory therapist.  It's amazing how much Advair helps!  Like others have said as well, it might not be just the asthma making it hard to breathe while exercise...extra weight will do that as well.  I can vouch for that!  It'll get easier and just remember to take your inhaler with you.