Advice for mild asthma sufferer?

optimistic_

Hi,

Fairly new to running, and even more so to outdoor running (or jogging even, I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of pace there!)
For a good while I’d been going to the gym, and using cross trainers for HIIT as part of my workout programme.
For as long as I could remember I hated treadmills, but I decided that to mix it up, I should incorporate some light cardio as well as HIIT, so introduced treadmills.
I rarely had a problem with breathing on cross trainer, very seldom did I need an inhaler. When I moved onto the treadmill, almost the same story, except I did need it a bit more often. That has eased slightly recently.

Now, I haven’t ran outside in a very long time, but I wanted to start with running every morning. So this morning at 6am, I dragged myself from bed and went for a few laps of the park (about a km or so per lap) Hadn’t finished one lap before I needed a blast of an inhaler, and this kept inhibiting me causing me to have to walk and making me simply have to cut it after two laps. Now it was particularly windy, and fairly cold…both of which would be factors in causing the wheezing while running.

But has anyone got any tips? Any other asthmatics who run? I have been to the doctor, who has told me my asthma is mild. But if I have to, I will go back. Should I just tough it out, see if it gradually becomes easier? I have an 8k (I know, but baby steps!!) to run in about 3 weeks, and would rather not be heaving and gasping for air after the first few minutes!

But if any experienced runners have any advice I would be grateful.

Ddad

I have mild asthma myself. Also exercise induced and also exacerbated by colder weather. I generally take two shots from the inhaler 10-15 minutes before I exercise under these sort of conditions and the asthma rarely effects me after that unless I've an underlying cold or cough. Hope that works for you.

optimistic_

Thanks for that Ddad!
I'll give that a shot tomorrow morning.


(quick note to mods, not seeking medical advice, just wondering what others might do to deal with a similar situation - as stated, have seen my GP and was advised against going to specialist for now)

Bungy Girl

Make sure to take the time to warm up gradually. I find this really helps with wheeziness, particularly when it's cold out.

optimistic_

Actually that is another thing, thanks Bunny. My warmup was minimal this morning. Might do a full lap walking before starting a run tomorrow.

Milesandmiles

I take two puffs about 15 mins before and the more I warm up the better.

I too am mild but I did notice that I was much worse than usual this morning. Might be something in the air at the mo.

Krusty_Clown

Milesandmiles wrote: »

Might be something in the air at the mo.

Pollen? Asthma sufferers are quite often hay-fever sufferers too (actually vice-versa).

robinph

You will likely have been working harder outside than you were on the treadmill anyway so that could be one cause. Being outside and could be something in the air causing it, depeding on the time of day and season, mine would get worse in the summer as it's related to hayfever as well but it could be cold air into your lungs causing an issue as well so running later in the day may work for you. I actually get asthma worse depending on which part of the world I'm in at the time as well, and used to be badly effected when in the UK and even some specific areas of the UK being worse than others, but Ireland not really causing me any issues at all.

I think I'd now actually have more trouble if I was inside on a treadmill than outside though, but it has got a lot milder for me over the last several years.

Best thing to do it trying a few different things. I rarely take the inhaler at all now, but used to actually take it prior to going for a run and then sometimes needing it on the way round as well.

Gringo78

robinph wrote: »

I actually get asthma worse depending on which part of the world I'm in at the time as well, and used to be badly effected when in the UK and even some specific areas of the UK being worse than others, but Ireland not really causing me any issues at all.

Did you have any problems in Cork? I've found its worse for me in cork than in say Dublin.

optimistic_

Thanks for all the help!

Didn't make it out this morning, it was whoring down rain. Hard to believe now.

Will take on board all of the above!

Krusty_Clown

optimistic_ wrote: »

Didn't make it out this morning, it was whoring down rain. Hard to believe now.

Rainy days are the best days to run. Get out there and smile.
Also rain reduces the pollen count.

robinph

Gringo78 wrote: »

Did you have any problems in Cork? I've found its worse for me in cork than in say Dublin.

I think I may have been a very small bit worse in Cork when I was down there for the relay last year, but nothing much really, and that would have been mostly due to the heat and any pollen about. I've been in the UK the last couple of days and I'm now starting to feel a bit tighter in the chest, but that will pass once the ferry gets me back to Dublin.

+1 on what Krusty said about rainy days being the best. The rain really cleans the air not just of the pollen but any other pollution as well. When the pollen is really bad I'd tend to find the mornings better than the evenings.