Running with Asthma

bekamix

Hi all. So I have quite bad asthma, feel breathless most days. Take my reliever inhaler most days too. I'd love to start running outside but really struggle. Get wheezy pretty quickly and then it's game over. Things aren't anywhere near as bad on a treadmill, still have to take it slow though which is fine. Any tips?

shabaity

I've got exercised induced I hit my rescue 20 m8m before exercise once and then a second time 5 min before hand. Seems to work better for me than all at once.

barbiereynolds701

When I workout, I focus in controlling my breathe. If you can control it, your lungs can build muscle and work better. Go slow and work up when your comfortable. I've heard/know alot of ppl who take their inhaler 15-20 minutes before hand

yirara

I still don't know if I have asthma or not. Only had two attacks (the first one was massive) in the last year, but never in my life managed to run 400m as I run out of breath. Might be mild sports-induced. I've started running now and hope I will improve a bit, and finally crack the 400 - without getting an attack. So far I've not used an inhaler before because I seem to be mildly allergic against them in that they block my nose and throat. So basically I'm not sure what the best way is. I just warm up properly and hope everything goes well.

Maleficent0241

shabaity wrote: »

I've got exercised induced I hit my rescue 20 m8m before exercise once and then a second time 5 min before hand. Seems to work better for me than all at once.

My doctor did me this is the correct way to use it - only I was told 5-10 min between puffs. The idea is for the first puff to open up the lungs partway so the second puff can get even further into the airway. I find my inhalers so much more effective now! On really bad days I can't run as fast or far, but overall I find I do better now with better conditioning.

OP, be gentle on yourself. Control your triggers as best you can and adjust your pace for what you can't control.

blankiefinder

bekamix wrote: »

Hi all. So I have quite bad asthma, feel breathless most days. Take my reliever inhaler most days too. I'd love to start running outside but really struggle. Get wheezy pretty quickly and then it's game over. Things aren't anywhere near as bad on a treadmill, still have to take it slow though which is fine. Any tips?

If you have exercise induced asthma or seasonal allergies that affect your asthma, you could ask your dr for a prescription for Singulair. It's a funny drug, it either works, or it doesn't. It varies by individual. edited to add: This would be on top of your rescue inhaler, and corticosteroid if you use one.

alyhuggan

I worked my way up on the treadmill using that 0-2.5k app. Went from being able to run no more than 2 minutes WITH my inhaler to running 20 minutes without. Then I dropped a 45 plate on it and broke my treadmill...

Kate5283kate

So, is your asthma under control in general? I'd suspect not if you're breathless most days.

Take a look at the last page of this National Institutes of Health brochure on managing asthma:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/guidelines/asthma_qrg.pdf

Sounds like you may have an undertreated medical problem, not a running problem.

Daisy471

It sounds like your asthma is not under control yet if you are feeling breathless most days. See your doctor first, and find something that works for you. Once it is controlled, then start running, but start slow. Ask your doctor about taking a rescue inhaler before your run, as mentioned above. I have asthma, and take 2 medications daily to control it, and use a rescue inhaler before runs. It may sound strange, but I feel that my asthma is better now than it ever has been, and I think it is due to running. I have been running for a few years now, slowly increasing my distance and pace.