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Normal breathlessness when exercising versus asthma breathlessness.

Wheezycat profile image
10 Replies

Can anyone feel the difference? I am beginning to think I can, but am I kidding myself? Normal exercise induced breathlessness is just that, but when my asthma kicks in I can kind of feel my muscles round my diaphragm kicking in to squeeze air out, ditto though less obvious, my muscles round my neck. Also, often I start squeeking with my breathing.

Does this happen to anyone else enough for you to notice?

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Wheezycat profile image
Wheezycat
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10 Replies
madonbrew profile image
madonbrew

Hmm, I’m just trying to remember back to when I used to go to the gym...I think I know what you mean. Yes, sometimes I could do a work out 💪 and I’d be fine...just normal exercise breathlessness, but other times...would probably be on the running 🏃‍♀️ machine that would trigger it most & the rowing 🚣‍♂️ machine and it would feel like the the airwave being sucked/squeezed out of me.

Lol 😂...this probably isn’t what you’re meaning at all!

Wheezycat profile image
Wheezycat in reply to madonbrew

Thank you ! Yes, I think it is somewhere close! Sort of not just me, then!

Gareth57 profile image
Gareth57

Don’t you find that exercise induced breathlessness is “easy” you get the air in and out with not much effort, but asthma induced is hard work?

Wheezycat profile image
Wheezycat in reply to Gareth57

Yes, that is what I mean! It certainly feels like they are different, even if brought on by some movement/action that could or would cause normal breathlessness, like walking fast up a steep hill.

Daisy_FC profile image
Daisy_FC

Yes. Excercise breathlessness is like breathing harder and gets easier once you have stopped for breath.

I agree, asthma breathlessness is like air is being sucked out, or like someone is squeezing your lungs, so theres an actual obstruction.

Often have to spend a minute or so figuring it out though!!

Wheezycat profile image
Wheezycat

Quite! Though I now seem to notice pretty fast or nearly immediately. If I happen to be walking it is as if another kind of breathing kicks in. And of course, that is what is happening. I can these days feel my diaphragmatic muscles kick in.

steve1000 profile image
steve1000

If you have it you know! wheezing, loss of breath made much worse by pushing yourself because some moron had told you it was all in your mind:- It took 10 minutes to start an asthma attack and sometimes weeks to get rid of it. This was before the use of steroids to control asthma and the drugs they gave me to control asthma, at that time, did not seem to work.

The first drug to work for me was intel compound" (long discontinued) and this was great! when I learned that I could not do any physical excercise without the fear of bringing on a asthma attack, I did every sport that I was unable to do at school, although probably badly, I enjoyed every second.

I now find myself on Fostair, which definitely controls asthma, but, does nothing to enable me to do physical excercise, beyond light weight training, I would say. Its as if my body cannot get enougth oxygen, but, is at a loss to work out why! I suspect I could pass out if I pushed myself.

Wheezycat profile image
Wheezycat in reply to steve1000

Intal Spinhaler! Those were the days! Our daughter was put on it when she was perhaps around 8 or so, having been on some long acting oral capsule before to stop coughing, theophylline I think.

As I am an older woman I use the word ‘exercise’ loosely. I was walking uphill at a businesslike speed to get to the fascilities that were quite some distance from the refreshments. It brought the SOB on, though on this occasion no wheezing. Normally there is, a squeeky version of it. The worst of it for me is the complete exhaustion that it brings with it. Ventolin eased the breathing, but the tiredness, with leaden limbs remained. It is unlikely this would have happened so badly in full summer - it was very mild yesterday, but still. I do not like the colder, damper months.

Please remember to take your Reliever before and after exercise if it is a trigger.

Also if just talking walking and it is getting colder, try a scarf around face it can help)

Wheezycat profile image
Wheezycat in reply to LDloveslattecoffe

Indeed! I am now trying to get used to taking Ventolin 15 minutes before venturing out on such days. And yes to scarf etc. Someone on here suggested the TM Buffs, the merino ones, and certainly I find it easy to use the lightest one. I also have a medium one and I am cracking that one.

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