Asthma and Exercise

iamwhoiam · 09-11-2005, 09:22 AM

i've had asthma (diagnosed by a doctor) for at least the last 6 years. i've always exercised, usually running and weighlifting.

however, within the past year or so i've noticed my asthma getting worse when i work out. it used to only get aggravated in the winter and during allergy (ragweed) season. it never affected me during my workouts. but now when i run at the gym, i seem to have more difficulty breathing and catching my breath than before.

i could see if i had just started exercising and my body was adjusting, but that's not the case. i also realize this is something i have to deal with and so forth, but i'm hoping there are some ways to make it easier. sometimes i get so out of breath, i have to completely stop, so i'munable to get in a full run.

anyone else have asthma? how does it affect your workouts? any advice or ideas? thanks!

Aishin86 · 09-11-2005, 10:29 AM

Hi.. I had asthma for 5 years before.. and yes it affected any workout I did... however, swimming didn't seem to affect my asthma whatsoever.. so I just started swimming and I don't know if it was BECAUSE of the swimming... but my asthma slowly just disappeared by itself

iamwhoiam · 09-11-2005, 10:49 AM

i've heard that about swimming before too...

swimming has so many benefits and would probably also be better for my knee, which is aggravated by running. it's low impact, yet you're still getting the cardio.

the only problem, i don't see myself in the pool...it's just not my thing. i remember getting water up my nose and chlorine in my contacts...oh yeah, and my hair turned this ugly rust color-haha.

you mentioned your asthma went away...did you ever use an inhaler before then?

frustrated101 · 09-11-2005, 04:04 PM

I have asthma now but it wasn't as severe when I was younger until I started smoking. When I quit I had damaged my lungs pretty good so now when I cough it sounds like a person that has smoked all their life and was not on respirator. So I started exercising to help this but I was to take a puss before I worked out and after because I would get severe chest pains( I take two different puffers). My allergies make it worse sometimes to, so it could be a new allergy that could have started that kind of reaction when your at the gym or it could be something else.

I would definetely go to your doctor to check it out because asthma can be something you don't want to mess with plus shortness of breath are signs to other problems not necessarily asthma.

Is it true that swimming could maybe help me out? I've never heard this before.

09-11-2005, 09:22 AM	#1
iamwhoiam Offline Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 33 Posts: 57	Asthma and Exercise i've had asthma (diagnosed by a doctor) for at least the last 6 years. i've always exercised, usually running and weighlifting. however, within the past year or so i've noticed my asthma getting worse when i work out. it used to only get aggravated in the winter and during allergy (ragweed) season. it never affected me during my workouts. but now when i run at the gym, i seem to have more difficulty breathing and catching my breath than before. i could see if i had just started exercising and my body was adjusting, but that's not the case. i also realize this is something i have to deal with and so forth, but i'm hoping there are some ways to make it easier. sometimes i get so out of breath, i have to completely stop, so i'munable to get in a full run. anyone else have asthma? how does it affect your workouts? any advice or ideas? thanks! __________________ God, grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change, COURAGE to change the things I can, and WISDOM to know the difference. ~Anon

09-11-2005, 10:49 AM	#3
iamwhoiam Offline Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 33 Posts: 57	i've heard that about swimming before too... swimming has so many benefits and would probably also be better for my knee, which is aggravated by running. it's low impact, yet you're still getting the cardio. the only problem, i don't see myself in the pool...it's just not my thing. i remember getting water up my nose and chlorine in my contacts...oh yeah, and my hair turned this ugly rust color-haha. you mentioned your asthma went away...did you ever use an inhaler before then? __________________ God, grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change, COURAGE to change the things I can, and WISDOM to know the difference. ~Anon

09-11-2005, 10:29 AM	#2
Aishin86 Offline Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 31	Hi.. I had asthma for 5 years before.. and yes it affected any workout I did... however, swimming didn't seem to affect my asthma whatsoever.. so I just started swimming and I don't know if it was BECAUSE of the swimming... but my asthma slowly just disappeared by itself

09-11-2005, 04:04 PM	#4
frustrated101 Offline Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 77	I have asthma now but it wasn't as severe when I was younger until I started smoking. When I quit I had damaged my lungs pretty good so now when I cough it sounds like a person that has smoked all their life and was not on respirator. So I started exercising to help this but I was to take a puss before I worked out and after because I would get severe chest pains( I take two different puffers). My allergies make it worse sometimes to, so it could be a new allergy that could have started that kind of reaction when your at the gym or it could be something else. I would definetely go to your doctor to check it out because asthma can be something you don't want to mess with plus shortness of breath are signs to other problems not necessarily asthma. Is it true that swimming could maybe help me out? I've never heard this before.