To those who exercise...

[Brenviking]

...do you exercise with no issues are do you find you are "blowing" while doing it?

I struggle with an inhaler - especially outdoors.

[Wheezycat]

Not sure what you mean by blowing, but i do know excercise can make me a bit wheezy.

Have you tried using your inhaler with an aerochamber? Depends, of course, what inhaler you are using.

[Katt-37]

I take my inhaler before exercise. I find that I cough up a bit of phlegm when I first start exercising but when that goes over it's normally fine. Do you take your inhaler before exercising?

[Hidden]

A lot of asthmatics get exercise induced asthma you can look online there is a lot of useful articles.

Everyone is different I know, this is what works for me.

I find that with exercise I initially will get very out of breath and I have a number of ways of dealing with this.

You can use you reliever 5 to 10 mins beforehand as Katt & Wheezycat have said and this should help.

If possible before my main exercise I purposely do a few minutes very strenuous work, like sprints, I then sit or relax for 5 to 10 minutes, or longer often, until I have fully recovered and my breathing is normal. After this although I will get some tightness when exercising it will be not too bad and I can take my reliever if need be.

The second way is to start very slowly and build up very slowly, you need a lot time just be patient, a slow walk for 10 minutes, walk for 10, fast walk for 10, very slow jog and eventually build to a normal pace, the key is to not spark off the tightness and shortness of breath, its tricky and time consuming but a lovely way to exercise.

Gentle exercise doesn’t seem to spark off the asthma as bad, a great exercise & form of transport is cycling and this can always be done at your own pace, you can start off slowly if you feel short of breath just slow down freewheel and still make good progress. I love cycling I can cycle for hours and if I ride steady will never get any asthma symptoms.

Cheers and keep it up.

[teasel90]

Like Katt-37 I also cough up phlegm when I start exercising but once its gone am o.k. I find I have to concentrate on my breathing. Have to be careful when exercising outdoors, especially this time of year, as my throat and chest feel like they're burning.

I go at my own pace and stop/slow down when I need to. It'll get easier down the line.

[Mark-f]

I'm an avid gym user...... it can be tough at times but I find it both good for body and mind !!

[CookieM]

I have just started learning to run with the Couch to 5k and am running outside.

I have learnt by trial and error what works for me - I take a couple of puffs when getting ready, and another one when about to head out of the door. Occasionally I need to use my inhaler while I am out, but not often (yet!).

If it is cold I use a buff over my mouth and nose to slightly warm the air I am breathing in, until my face is too hot! All things that have been suggested by other asthmatics on the Couch to 5k forum on here. I also focus on my breathing when I first start.

As others have said - everyone is different and it is about finding what works for you. It is also worth speaking to your GP or Asthma nurse.

[runnerwithasthma2559]

Hello Brenviking

I have asthma and I exercise a lot. I run three days a week and do a series of strenuous calisthenics on non-running days. One day a week is a rest day with very easy calisthenics for a short time. My runs are usually from 2 to 4 miles. "Blowing while exercising?" I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean breathing heavily through the mouth while exercising? I'll assume that is what you mean. Let me know if that is not what you mean.

Many people with asthma are mouth breathers. To exercise effectively with asthma, it is important to become a nose breather.

I've developed a lot of strategies for exercise with asthma. I've found that cold air is a problem so I exercise indoors when it is cold out.

Deep breathing calisthenics are vital for me. They made running and other hard exercise possible. Go to PeacefulWarrior.com to learn how to do the Peaceful Warrior Workout.

Google "John Douillard" and "sun salutation." You will find there an excellent deep breathing series of calisthenics.

I changed my diet to avoid dairy because that produces more mucus and makes running harder.

I need to get enough sleep each night because if I don't it weakens my immune system and that leads to colds and a lot of congestion and no exercising.

I limit and deal with stress effectively because according to Dr. John Douillard, 80% of illness is caused by stress.

If I am around someone who is sick, I exercise less, because strenuous exercise can weaken the immune system. After a hard workout, I'm more vulnerable to someone else's bad germs.

I hope this helps you. John Douillard's book, "Body, Mind and Sport" is must reading if you want to breathe more effectively while exercising. My book "Running With Asthma: An Asthmatic Runner's Memoir" may also be helpful. My book and John Douillard's are available on amazon.com.

For sure, consult with your medical doctor about what kind of exercise is right for you.

Feel free to contact me at [e-mail].

Yours for better breathing,

John Terry McConnell