Asthma attack in a jacuzzi

[hb1977]

Hi Everyone

I have asthma and am currently well controlled on Seretide and Montelukast. I've not had any Prednisolone this year (needed 4 courses in 7 months last year so a vast improvement)

I like to swim 2-3 times per week; this is fine but I've noticed recently then when I get in the jacuzzi after my swim I suddently start to cough and wheeze. Last time I went in the jacuzzi I had an asthma attack, despite using my Salbutamol just before the swim.

Any one else experience this? How do you manage it?

Thanks

[Hidden]

No I have never had this problem, worth asking whether they have recently changed cleaning products in the Jacuzzi area?

[Hidden]

I find that in some places the chemicals that are used in the jacuzzi are much stronger than those used in the pool (which makes sense, I suppose), and find that I get wheezy in jacuzzis much more frequently than I do in swimming pools. I tend to be ok in friends' hot tubs, so I suspect they are able to use fewer chemicals because they use their tubs for private use only. My relatives who have pools don't use chlorine, but use chemicals that are less irritating to the airways, which makes a big difference for me...

Perhaps you could ask your sports club whether they have to use much more chlorine (or whatever) in the jacuzzi than in the pool, or whether they use different chemicals. They might be amenable to using less irritating chemicals, or could perhaps let you know if there are times of day or certain days of the week when the water hasn't just been treated, so might be less upsetting to your airways.

[Hidden]

In the past the bubbles effected me, the pressure I think

[Hidden]

I've had this problem, especially if they go OTT with the chlorine. Steam rooms set me off too. I cancelled my membership with DW sports because of this and the fact my coughing and muscle spasms ruined the tranquility of pilates and yoga in the beautiful surroundings, lol.

[Hidden]

I was wondering about the steam element though jacuzzis are usually in fairly open places - mind you, the whole swimming pool atmosphere can be warm and humid but then it wouldn't just be getting in the jacuzzi.

Steam rooms set me off as well, couldn't believe it when I had to leave and thought it was just me being weird as cold, dry air is a trigger for me so I never thought warm and humid would be.

[Skee-skee]

I don't use jacuzzis much myself, so it has never happened to me. At my boyfriend's gym the jacuzzi does have a notice saying don't use it if you are asthmatic (to be honest this hasn't stopped me!). I had always wondered why though.

My guess would be that you had just finished exercising (which can be a bad time for my asthma certainly), then you got in a warm jacuzzi. The jacuzzi might well have more chloring/chemicals as I think they are known to be more of an infection risk (presumably being closer to body temperature). It also might be that because it is hotter there are a lot more vapours in the air around the jacuzzi and hence more chlorine to irritate your lungs.

My advice would be just stick to the pool if you are worried. Or if you really want to go in the jacuzzi a puff beforehand?

Bryony

[Annista]

I think it depends on how hot the waters. The hotter it is the more steam it generates and the steam is going to be full of chemicals which it can deliver them very efficiently deep into the lungs.

[Hidden]

I found it definately depends on the jacuzzi. Most are ok for me but at the hotel day after wedding their jacuzzi was awful and turned out they had over ?chlorinated it. Barely an apology but at least it was closed immediately. One person was quite bad with coughing etc - thought they'd asthma too but didn't. The (newer) Bath Spa has signs up about asthma and other conditions too.