Running induced asthma

[davelinks]

Hi, Any advice on tackling ria please. My wife starts coughing & wheezing a few minutes into running. Doctor prescribed a ventolin salbutamol inhaler, which doesn't seem to help, shouldn't it be an albuterol or cromolyn sodium inhaler?

[freefaller]

Usually if you take the ventolin before exercise it helps. His even asthmatic all my life and have always tried to exercise and I never did this. Even going on a long walk would make me gasp for the first say 10 mins/quarter of a hour and then I could control my breathing. So, when I heard that people took their ventolin like this I tried it but it didn't work for me either! However, after continuing with exercise in the gym or good long walks for the last - goodness it must be over 30 years now this gasping for breath when starting exercise has disappeared? I have changed inhalers a lot in that time so maybe that could have something to do with it. From what you say it sounds like your wife has just been given the one inhaler and no preventative inhalers which I have been taking since 1981. How long has she been on the Ventolin? Maybe it would be a good idea for her to go back and see her GP and discuss this and maybe ask to see a consultant? Just wondering does the gasping and coughing stop after a time and she can continue to run? Also taking sips of water regularly may help - it does me if this ever happens to me now. I don't know if it is the water calming the irritation in the throat or the fact that sucking the water in calms my breathing?

Continue exercising it will do you both good but take great care and don't be embarrassed to stop if your wife feels she needs a rest.

[runnerwithasthma2559 in reply to freefaller]

I too am a runner with asthma. I've had it since I was six. Now I'm 69. My asthma is a lot better now. Deep breathing exercises like the Peaceful Warrior Workout helped a lot. PeacefulWarrior.com These days I'm able to run 5k races asthma free. There is a lot to this. Be sure to consult with a medical doctor before doing anything new. My email is [e-mail] I have a book that tells how I've dealt with asthma- "Running with Asthma: An Asthmatic Runner's Memoir." It is available on amazon.com Checks out my website: runnerswithasthmsa.com

It would be great to have an email conversation about this.

John Terry McConnell

[davelinks in reply to freefaller]

My wife has recently graduated from couch to 5k, so is a new runner at 61. Back in March she had a cold & chest infection, so stopped her running programme for a few weeks while recovering. Eventually she graduated, but then she would get a cough a few minutes into a run so messed up her running enjoyment.

A visit to the doctor has revealed a swelling in the front of her neck, he prescribed her a Salbutamol inhaler & antibiotics (& a referral for a scan on the swelling) to fight any infection which may be lingering from her chest infection, which she used to no avail..

Scan has revealed inflamed thyroid nodule which is pushing on the wind pipe, tests are still on going but the endo specialist say's the cough is looking more like running induced asthma rather than caused by the swelling.

She has since told me that as a child running at school she would start gasping, and the teacher asked, have you got asthma?! I don't think my wife new much about asthma if anything then being a child, and just said no.. she was told to carry on running! How ignorant of the teacher!

Anyway, with regard to the outcome of her tests, she will discuss further correct treatment with her doctor, hoping to enjoy running again.. thanks all for your info/advice..

Dave..

[O-T-]

I used to cycle and was advised by a doc to take my reliever (Ventolin in my case) just before starting out as I always found the first 15 min very difficult (exercise induced asthma). I haven't done that kind of activity for years now but I walk a lot (and furiously!) and just rely on a diet that doesn't cause me constipation or allergic trouble (I don't get on with wheat or beef or pulses), and I take beetroot powder capsules prior to any excursion or even as a boost to the morning coffee. I think low-irritant home environments and anti-inflammatory life/diet practices have helped me far more than the meds I was on.

Beetroot capsules & reliever (or symbicort), and coffee, before a run might be a strategy. I think it comes down to inflammation - too much excursion think requires recovery in a very low irritant environment; gradual warm-ups also a good idea..

[runnerwithasthma2559]

Hi Dave,

I am a runner with asthma. I've had asthma since I was 6. Now I'm 69. I take two puffs of an albuterol inhaler before every run. I take the steroid, advair, morning and night. I also take singular 10 mg. at night. I've written a book "Running with Asthma: An Asthmatic Runner's Memoir." It is available on amazon.com. The most important thing is to consult with your doctor on proper exercise. Then, if he OK's it, do the deep breathing exercises of the Peaceful Warrior Workout- PeacefulWarrior.com. That only takes a few minutes a day. Run slowly at first. Try to breathe through your nose. If you can't nose breathe while running try to nose breathe while walking. I've been a mouth breather most of my life. Starting to breathe through the nose can be difficult with asthma but nose breathing gets the air deeper into the lungs. Watch your diet. What food brings on more asthma? Get enough sleep. I hope this helps. I could say a lot more.

If you have more more questions I'd be happy to try to answer them.

John Terry McConnell