Exercising for asthmatics

Chazz Michael Michaels

I used to work out 4 times a week some years back, I was fit as a fiddle. Then I let it go and I have become very unfit. Anytime I try to kick things off again by going for a run I get an intense asthma attack, where I use about half my inhaler to get my lungs going again. Thus, I cannot get fit, and because I am unfit, my asthma is worse.

Has anyone experienced this problem? If so, how did you break through this plateau?

Thanks

tattykitty

Hello, not wishing to offer medical advice, but is it worth popping to your doctor's to get your Asthma assessed? You may need a different strength/dosage. Your doctor will probably also want to check that you're using your Reliever correctly, because a lot of people don't take enough of the drug into their lungs, rendering it ineffectual. Hickeys pharmacy on Henry Street has a poster in the window offering advice on asthma pump technique - other pharmacies may offer this too.

I find that running is one of the things that triggers my Asthma, but I also know plenty of people who can run with it and not have attacks so it's a very individual thing. Perhaps start with a different kind of exercise. How about swimming? If you're very unfit as you say, fast walking might be preferable to running - you can build it up gradually.

Best of luck

Chazz Michael Michaels

tattykitty wrote: »

Hello, not wishing to offer medical advice, but is it worth popping to your doctor's to get your Asthma assessed? You may need a different strength/dosage. Your doctor will probably also want to check that you're using your Reliever correctly, because a lot of people don't take enough of the drug into their lungs, rendering it ineffectual. Hickeys pharmacy on Henry Street has a poster in the window offering advice on asthma pump technique - other pharmacies may offer this too.

I find that running is one of the things that triggers my Asthma, but I also know plenty of people who can run with it and not have attacks so it's a very individual thing. Perhaps start with a different kind of exercise. How about swimming? If you're very unfit as you say, fast walking might be preferable to running - you can build it up gradually.

Best of luck

Very unfit may have been an overstatement. I am 6'4" and 14 1/2 stone, so I am slightly overweight. Also, if I get lucky enough to not get an attack, I can run for around 20-30 mins on a treadmill as, say, speed 12 and incline 1.

I also went to my doctor recently and I did the test and he said my lungs are fine (bar the asthma). I know from past experience that once I get a little more fit the attacks tend to die off.

I will look into my technique with the inhaler though, that is interesting.

Hailhail1967

I am a personal trainer and asthma sufferer myself. I also have exercise induced asthma, but it has not bothered me for about 3 years now. I take my preventative inhaler, once every 2 days and thats it. It is a far cry from using a reliever inhaler 4/5 times a day.

First off I would be mentioning it to your doctor that you are going back exercising, thats the start point. Obviously not giving any medical advice, but exercise is absolutely fantastic for asthma.

Starting small and building up is the key, once you discuss it with your doctor.

Best of luck with it all.

donegal_man

As someone who has suffered from asthma since I can remember I would definitely agree with tattykitty about visiting your doctor again and letting him/her know about your difficulties during exercise. Especially as you are taking such large doses of your inhaler, maybe you need a preventer which you can use before engaging in exercise.
Have you tried swimming? I have found it very good for my asthma, it has the benefit of being good all round exercise while the water offers support so you are not lugging your entire body mass around. I am also a slightly ahem, chunkier gentleman.

daenerysstormborn3

OP, I was born with asthma and I now have my own nebuliser in my house, that should give you an idea of how bad it is. Are you actually taking your prescribed dose everyday? Or do you choose not to take it on days when you feel fine? In my experience I never noticed a significant change in my asthma until I started taking my inhalers even when I felt I didn't need them. I take Salamol (1 puff morning and evening) and Seretide 250 (2 puffs morning and evening).

I have always found swimming very good for my asthma.

In fairness, if you have gone to your doctor and advised him of the problems you're having and he hasn't been able to make any suggestions, it might be time to look into going to a specialist of some description that might have more expertise than a G.P.