Asthma with certain exercise

[Dingpbatz]

Hi all, newbie here.

I'm in my mid 40s and had asthma since a toddler which has been under control in recent years.

I'm slightly overweight so have started exercising recently to change my lifestyle.

I can go on the exercise bike for a good 20 minutes, cycling fast and slow and get very little ashtma symptoms. If I go for a moderate walk I get very little asthma symptoms but if I change that in to a fast walk or very slow jog then it starts.

So the other night im fast walking, took my inhaler before I went out, and all was going well . I then decided to walk for a minute then jog (slowly - almost walking pace) for 10 seconds. I managed one 10 second jog before the asthma kicks in.

Why is this only happening the moment I jog but doesnt come on at all with the exercise bike? Is it purely down to jogging being strenuous enough to tip me over the line compared to the exercise bike?

It is a concern of mine because I know that if I continued to jog I'd be in hospital, so I need to solve it .

Thanks

[johnsmith]

This is because there is a reflex to tighten the chest in fast walk and jog. The exercise bike is a different condition in regard to exercise.

When you walk at normal pace you do not tighten the chest and thus do not overload the breathing system.

[ChrissieMons]

I think it's about controlling your breathing when you move from steady exercise to more strenuous movements, as Johnsmith described. I'm sure if you concentrate on it, it can be done.

[Hidden]

I find running significantly more strenuous than riding so it is possible that jogging,as you say, just pushes you over a tripping point but I am surprised the very light jog does this.

The other surprising thing is that 10 seconds of jogging can do this, generally exercise induces asthma (EIA) will take a few minutes to start to affect you.

With my EIA i find if I start to have breathing problems I can stop for 5 to 10 minutes rest and recover and then can continue at the same intensity and not have much\any breathing problems.

When you start/raise your exercise activity your body will burn glycogen stored in your muscles, this requires no oxygen to use and, depending on the exercise intensity, take 5 to 10 minutes to use up.

After this your body will switch to carbohydrate burning which will require significantly more oxygen to sustain and simultaneously try to restore the glycogen stores which requires even more oxygen so is extremely strenuous to the lungs.

This is why the 10 seconds of jogging causing your asthma to kick in is surprising as at that point you will not be stressing your lungs any more than the walking.

[Shellc]

Look up eilo apparently can be confused with asthma