Asthma and running

[Camperfan]

Anyone else managing to run but dealing with Asthma? I have had a couple of chest infections this year and been told I have asthma, I really want to get back to running and just wondered if there's any advice out there from anyone who is managing this?

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Hi Camperfan First advice from me is you can run with asthma you just need to know your limits. Everyones asthma is different and from my experience the most important thing is to understand how your lungs behave and what upsets them and get help - be that medication or advice - to help you manage that. Practical tips for running with asthma are to use your ventolin before you start, warm up well, wear a buff or similar when the air is cold and pace yourself so your breathing is always comfortable. But mostly just get out and run, you and your lungs will be better for it! Good luck with getting back to running.

[ju-ju- Graduate]

I have asthma ( not very badly) but enough that I always have a puff of my inhaler before a run and I always take it with me and will use it on a run too and it does help.... cold air is a killer so I often put my buff over my mouth at the start of a run to warm up my lungs!!

[Nellyharte Graduate]

Hi camper fan, interesting that you posted this as I have just found out the same thing and am about to finish my 2 week inhaler trial. I have only had 3 runs but I have noticed a big difference, not so much coughing and mucus for the first few minutes! Sorry too much info there. Thanks Lizb for your tips and Juciyju, who ever knew the panther has asthma? Get on the inhaler and see how it goes, don't look at it as a barrier but an end to chest infections (I had 7 last year).

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Paula Radcliffe has Asthma. don't seem to have stopped her.

[Camperfan]

Wow Nellyharte 7 chest infections! Thanks for advice, am seeing doc this week for hopefully some help with this, not got a lot of faith in my particular doctors but thats a whole others conversation! Currently walking every lunch time and finding some days ok, some coughing fits happen. look forward to sorting it and getting back out there. I'll never be a Paula Radcliffe but that's ok!

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

I've moved over to a combined inhaler since I started running, I got a cold last November that left me with a cough I couldn't shake off. Another couple of colds since have kept me coughing...the new inhaler seems to work. Be prepared for your asthma to maybe change, you might need more or fewer puffs on your inhaler.. my asthma Nurse told me it's up to me to control my asthma, not the other way round.

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7 chest infections Nelly Harte! That is grim. I used to get lots of chest infections and was diagnosed with mild bronchiectasis as well as asthma so I take a regular antibiotic which has reduced the number and I have a rescue pack with a different antibiotic when I do get one. Hope your inhaler does the job for you but if not I would be persistent with your GP so they you the right treatment.