sore lungs from swimming

charmmeth

Hello, I wonder if anyone can advise. My main exercise is swimming. I had been swimming 1 km a few times a week through the autumn, then upped it to 1.25 km before Christmas and this last week to 1.5 km and then yesterday 1.6 km (= 1 mile). However, over the last few days I have been experiencing tightness in my lungs.

It seems that this is not uncommon, and I have found out that it even has a name: "exercise-induced bronchoconstriction" or "exercise-induced asthma" (it is definitely not "swimming-induced pulmonary edema"). The recommended response is "exercising in warmer environments" (I have no control over that, sadly...), "swimming in short spurts rather than long distances", and "using an inhaler" (I have inhalers so this is not a problem). [All info from this website - http://www.livestrong.com/article/480042-tightness-of-the-lungs-after-swimming/ - but I have verified it elsewhere.]

I am planning to consult my doctor about this, but I wondered if anyone here at mfp has any experience of it and how they dealt with it? For instance: Did you use your asthma inhaler (Ventolin would be the right one I assume) before and after swimming? What distance/length of time worked for you? I was so chuffed about swimming a mile, but maybe my lungs are telling me that I need to stick to my 1.25 km which takes me just over 30 minutes.

Any tips gratefully received. This is a real pain as running is not really an option for me due to knee and ankle issues.

jazzy550

I live in Florida and I don't swim in the winter months but we have freshwater springs here that are cold all year round and I can't swim in them as I lose my breath. I never knew what it was! Can you find an indoor heated pool? Like at the YMCA? I don't know if your body adjust; mine never did.

mirrim52

Have you actually been diagnosed with exercise induced asthma, or are you guessing?
Either way you should be discussing options with your doctor. Ventolin is a rescue inhaler and is used when an asthma attack is already underway. It is not meant to be used to prevent attacks. When I was diagnosed, I was prescribed a combination inhaler (Symbicort) that can be taken ahead of time to prevent breathing difficulties.

scraver2003

What do you mean by tightness in your lungs? Is it a feeling you get right after swimming? Does it last a long time? I used to get a weird feeling in my lungs when I was a kid and spent the day swimming in my pool. It was from taking deep breaths and holding them under water over and over. Are you breathing properly when you swim?

kozinskey

I have exercise-induced asthma and swimming is definitely harder for me than running. I blame the humidity and the way swimming restricts my breathing. I'm sure it yields to practice -- I often feel like my progress with cardio exercises is slower than other people might experience, so the trick is to not get discouraged.

blankiefinder

My daughter finds that if she can really control her breath while racing, that she can ward off an asthma attack. I would suggest consulting your doctor if you haven't already, though. Another medication they can sometimes add to the symbicort (a combination rescue / cortisone inhaler) and or Ventolin (rescue) is Singulair. It's a medication that either it works for you, or it doesn't. They don't know until you try. It might be an option, discuss it with your Dr.

Lois_1989

If it is something to do with the cold could you look into some sort of thermal swimsuit? I'm sure they must exist, for outside swimming and things like that.

charmmeth

Thanks all. As I said: I am planning to consult my doctor and in fact am going there right now. I am on asthma medication: have had symbicort, but didn't get on with it (found the powder inhaler too dry), and was on seretide for a few years but am now just being transferred to a new inhaler the name of which I forget. The symptoms I am having are like what I had with symbicort: dry feeling lungs, dry cough, not just after swimming but ongoing. The Ventolin does seem to help, though.

blankiefinder

singular is an itsy bitsy little pill, super tiny, so no issues with the dryness like symbicort. I can't take that either.

charmmeth

Thanks: I'll ask my doctor. I didn't get to seem anyone today as one doctor was off sick, but I'll try again tomorrow. Meanwhile I have taken my hayfever medication (i.e. anti-histamine) and feel miles better.

charmmeth

Hi there: just posting back now as I turned out to be coming down with a flu-ey cold which explains quite a lot and knocked me out for a few days. My doctor did advise a couple of puffs of ventolin before swimming - once I get back to it, which at present I can't.