Swimming and sauna.

I've developed a cough I can't shift, despite conscientiously using both preventer and reliever. I'm sick of not being able to get to the gym to do any meaningful exercise so was thinking of swimming. There seem to be mixed views on the benfits of this for asthmatics. It's never bothered me before, but with this stubborn cough...

I was also thinking of trying the sauna to see if that would ease the coughing.

I would be really interested to see what others thought of both ideas.

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I find swimming very good for my asthma. It helps it a great deal, sometimes just sitting at the side of the pool is as good as being in the pool. Never been in a sauna tho. All depends on how my chest is. I think the cough could be a sign your asthma is poorly controlled please take your cough to the doctors or asthma nuse and ask there advice, if nothing else just to be on the safe side.

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Swimming and sauna.

Thanks Plumie.

I'm planning to visit the doc - was just trying to see if going back onto the preventer would help sort me out.

I might give the swimming a go though. I don't suffer with my asthma a lot, but find it very frustrating when I do!

Still in denial, I guess....

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Ayshea is quite the opposite, if she goes swimming the chlorine sets her asthma off and as for the sauna, she had a pamper party for her birthday, there is a spa and a sauna and she couldn't cope with being in the sauna, the hot air just made her wheeze! Mind you, every time she is in HDU and they try to give her heated oxygen she goes potty as that makes her worse too!

Mel

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Hi I don't go swimming any more because the local baths are vile, well the changing rooms are. Saunas I find very dry, and whilst I haven't used one for donkeys years wouldn't do so now. When I could afford a private gym membership I used to use the steam rooms and my asthma quite liked that, dear old electric shower has to suffice these days to get the same effect as steam room.

Everyone is different you might get on fine in a sauna, try short periods and see, off course have your medication near you in case of difficulties, and in case of real difficulties try going with a friend the first few times you use one, or at least do not use one alone.

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I find swimming OK, despite having chlorine induced asthma (well that caused it), but if I use my nose and head before swimming things are fine, basically if i smell chlorine, or the pool side is hot, then no way am i swimming in the pool, that is a sign of a bad pool. Pools are supposed to be cold when you get in, and the pool side temp should be cool, and well ventilated. Ask to see the chlorine readings, the free chlorine level should be between 1 and 3 p.p.m (parts per million) and the combined level should not exceed 1 p.p.m, but ideally below 0.5 ppm which is hardly ever seen. Chlorine is a poison anyway, and there is plenty of research to support the high chlorine and asthma link. be careful! find a well managed pool if you can, and some like the one i use has UV and means they can use less chlorine, which they create from salt as well, unlike most that use chemicals.

The sauna is a personal thing, depends on how your asthma reacts to high humidity, some do well on it, and others really suffer, so that is something that needs you to workout for yourself.

Chris

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Woody-som most pools use bromine not chlorine. I can't pass the swimming pool without nebbing even my BiL's outdoor pool is a no-no. I do have a hot tub but use special lung friendly chemicals to keep it clean. It means changing the water more often but it is worth it!

Bex

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Bex, they may use bromine around you, but here they use chlorine, I was told it's more effective in lower doses, and bromine has a tendency to tint the water slightly (not really visible) but does make a difference to some of the portable chlorine testers.

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I was only going on what my step dad who is a pool manager says. Maybe it is different in other places they use chlorine to clean but not in the pool.

Bex