Asthma!

[Frontrowunion2]

Hi all, I'm currently on week 6 run 3, now I'm into the longer runs my asthma is becoming an issue, literally stopping to catch my breath and stabilise my breathing every 1km or so, just wondered if anyone else has similar issues, I use a purple FOSTAIR steroid inhaler

[CookieM Graduate]

There will be others on here to give advice, but it was something which concerned me when I started running.

I now take 2 puffs of my ventolin as I'm getting ready to go out. Sometimes, I take a puff or 2 of Symbicort instead or as well, depending on how my lungs are feeling at the time (and when in the day I'm running).

The other thing I learnt to do when I was doing C25k for the first time (and I still do it at around 10 minutes into a run) is focus on my breathing - particularly my breathing out (not worrying about breathing in and out for certain numbers of steps, just focusing on breathing out fully). Our bodies are getting used to this new effort and need us to be breathing deeply (think into your stomach rather than your chest) to get enough oxygen. Above all - try slowing down!! I generally find that if I am struggling with my breathing, then I am going faster than usual!

This doesn't mean there aren't times when I need to use my inhaler while out running, but it is very infrequent now! It's about finding what works for you - maybe worth a chat with your asthma nurse or GP too?

[Fatgirlslim19 Graduate]

Hi and welcome! Well done for getting to week 6, you are doing really well.

Great advice from CookieM, I'm asthmatic too and in the beginning I would need to use my inhaler as I went around. Then I discovered around week 4 that if I took a puff just before the run part it felt easier, widening the airways and all that.

Anyhoo, then I got stuck and could NOT manage that second 5 minute run of week 4 and was told to slow down. I honestly didn't think I could go any slower but I gave it a go. I was told "conversational pace" so I sang along with my playlist to make sure I was going slow enough. And it was incredible. Everything was suddenly much easier, but in particular the breathing. As the weeks progressed I stayed slow, and never looked back.

Trying to go too fast is not for now. Just try for the time. Slow down and then slow down a bit more. Your breathing will regulate after about the first 5 minutes.

All this said, if your asthma is bad it's very important that you check with your doctor/asthma nurse that they say you should do this.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

It’s about progress... I’d wager a couple of months ago you’d have needed those inhalers well before running a km. my daughter doesn’t need her blue inhaler any more but still takes her brown one morning and night. Hopefully one day you can ditch them all, and it seems like for now you’re at the current limit of the asthma... running will keep improving the lungs, run nice and slowly and allow that process to get ahead of your running again.

[backintime Graduate]

I am "seasonally asthmatic" with hayfever so I did most of my running indoors, but I found that the running increased my lung capacity for other things and I didn't need my inhaler as much this year

I agree you need to get breathing all the way down, even during the warm up walk. I found giving a cough or two helped, but another poster suggested breathing out as if you're misting up a mirror as it is less irritating on the body than coughing.

Once I manage to get all the lungs working it is easier even if I still wheeze a bit at the beginning.

[Frontrowunion2]

Thanks so much for your replies, asthma nurse booked in mid Aug, I'll take your advice and slow down till then, thank you x

[Glistener Graduate]

I am asthmatic and find the hot weather makes it worse. So, I tend to run at a time of the day when it’s cooler. I always use my ventolin inhaler before a run and during it if I need to

[Becky1606 Graduate]

I’m severely asthmatic and I’ve found that running really has made a significant difference to my breathing, which is great. For C25K, I also did the puff of ventolin before any non interval run, and made sure that I was going nice and slowly. Now I’m working up to a HM, I keep a slowish place but take regular breaks so regulate my breath