Asthma & Allergy Sufferers

I have asthma and allergies, but now that I'm at a healthy weight and in shape, neither have seemed to bother me this summer at all. With that being said, up until this past weekend, I've mostly been running on the treadmill (but I have been biking on the trails a few times a week) but I'm moving outdoors because I have a race coming up next month. I just take my daily maintenace twice a day (I make sure to take one of the doses about 15 minutes before I run or bike) and I can't even remember the last time I actually had to take my rescue inhaler. I can run 5km. in under 30 minutes, so it's definitely doable. What's worked for me is to continually increase my speed by 0.1MPH each week. When I started running again about 3-4 months ago, I started at around 5.5mph and now I'm up to 6.5mph.

I have exercise induced asthma, which was never diagnosed until I turned 50 because I never exercised enough to trigger it. Embarrassing.

Anyway, I pretreat before strenuous exercise with my inhaler. For me, the difference has been huge. Instead of wheezing and feeling like I can't get air when I'm climbing a very steep section of mountain, I just breathe heavy like everyone else.

I'm in your boat, but my allergies aren't seasonal. I would, however, recommend a nasal spray.

I have asthma and allergies as well, both since I was a very young child. I am allergic to....pretty much everything, and in many cases cats & dogs would trigger an asthma attack.

I have been getting allergy shots for 3 years and they are working wonders - so much so that we just got a SECOND cat (long haired, no less). I take Allegra every day still along with fluticasone nasal spray (just started that).

For my asthma I use Advair twice a day, and a rescue inhaler before I exercise.

It may not sound under control, but it's way better than it used to be. I used to wake up in the middle of the night and would immediately have a tight chest and need my rescue inhaler. No more. There have even been times I've forgotten to use the rescue inhaler before exercise and realized that after I was done....and not had any issues.

If your insurance covers the allergy shots, I highly recommend them. They have completely turned my life around allergy/asthma wise. Oh, I'm sure the weight loss as helped some, too

I have asthma and allergies, asthma worse.
I couldn't workout for two months this summer because I would just wake up short of breath.
My doctor has now put me in these expensive singular pills for both issues and I don't even need my inhaler hardly ever.and can workout extreme almost.
But I feel your pain, it's not a great feeling at all...

Singular is a Godsend.

I have had hay fever and the like, since I was a small child.
When I hit 30, it became intolerable and I was wheezing and my lung capacity was down to about 40%.
I started regular allergy shots and they changed my life.
You will need shots several times per week, then it goes down to about once every 5 weeks or so.

I strongly recommend you try this, it changed my life.

I don't have significant allergies, so I'm kinda out of place posting in this thread. But I do know a few people who have WICKED allergies, asthma or both, and they are able to train and run just fine (once they figured out how to manage them). It comes down to being determined enough to work through it and patient enough to find what works.

Good luck.

This content has been removed.

I have both asthma and seasonal allergies, but my son has them worse. When he went to the doctor in March, we were told that he needed to take a citirizine (Zyrtec) in the evening and in the morning. Since that makes him tired, the doctor told him he could take two loratadine (Claritin) in the morning instead, so Zyrtec is a much stronger pill than Claritin. We always get the generic.

The nose spray should be prescription.

I just slow down on the hills and push through it the best I can. This time of year is absolutely miserable for me too.

I have SEVERE year-long allergies. I do go get 3 shots weekly - and I am so bad that the allergy program to get me to being a normal person will take 6-7 YEARS of shots. :-(
I take an allergy pill nightly, as well as use nasal sprays. I had sinus surgery and that helped a little.
I still can't workout outside - I can't even work in the yard without being itchy, with a horrendous sinus headache.
I started a low-carb, low-sugar diet, and my allergies have been SO much better. (Not great, but there is a definite difference. My allergist said many people are more sensitive to carbs and sugars, and those sensitivities can worsen allergy symptoms. Yay.)
Keep on keepin' on. It is hard, but find a workout that fits your body and lifestyle. If you can workout outside, take a shower immediately when you come in. Also, I have an air purifier in the bedroom - it seems to help.
Good luck getting and staying healthy!

Interesting on the Paleo imput. I have considered doing it for awhile just to see if I have an improvement with my allergies. I am going out of the country in 6 weeks and may try it when I get back.

Interesting on the Paleo imput. I have considered doing it for awhile just to see if I have an improvement with my allergies. I am going out of the country in 6 weeks and may try it when I get back.

It's made a huge improvement for a few people I know, myself included.

My wife no longer has aches and pains that turned out to be a recently diagnosed wheat allergy

A friend of mine had constant horrible acne that has been more or less stopped by going paleo

Another friend would get literally 12-15 sinus infections a year and was in near constant pain, this year after going paleo he's had 4. He also had asthma that's basically gone and seasonal allergies that were basically bad enough to incapacitate him in the spring and summer, that were barely noticeable this year.

I'm a life long asthma and allergy sufferer too and see all those racing bibs <--- got them from 5ks, 10milers and a half marathon! Other than the half marathon (which happened to be at the beginning of October AND the worst time for my allergies - I ran 13.2miles with bronchitis!) I managed 9-9:30min/mile pace. I started running by working up from a quarter of the track and then took to the road. You can do it! It may take a little longer than someone without allergies or asthma, but you got this!

edit: I no longer am able to run (unrelated to the asthma/allergies) but when I could run, I would use my rescue inhaler a few minutes before a run and just run indoors or at a slower pace or less mileage on those high pollen days

I have had great luck with allegra. I am not a great runner by any means, but I managed a 4.5 mile run tonight. The ragweed is terrible where I am, but I get some relief without drowsiness from allegra. I have asthma as well and I read some great articles about building lung capacity. I don't remember where I found them, but I'm sure you could google it. Also, one of my spin instructors has us count out loud during jumps and that seems to really help build capacity.