Exerciing with asthma

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arachniagirl
arachniagirl Posts: 64 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
My asthma is really interfering with my ability to do cardio, I can't even get my heart rate over 110 without struggling to breathe, feeling fatigued and dizzy. I've been taking my Ventalin right before working out and my trainer told me to start taking it a half-hour before instead but that hasn't helped. Interestingly enough after 10-15 minutes into my workout my lungs seem to open up and my breathing improves substantially, it's just getting through those first 15 minutes that is almost impossible.

This is so frustrating for me. I feel like I'm making zero progress at improving my fitness because I am struggling so much to get through my workouts and some days it's just too much and I can't keep going. In general my asthma is fairly well controlled with Symbacort, flaring up only with my allergies or when I get a cold.

Anyone else going through this? Found anything that helps? Even if I could reduce the initial suffering time I would be happy...

Replies

  • nose6
    nose6 Posts: 39 Member
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    How much are you warming up? I find it helps to, for example, walk for several blocks before beginning to run. Or the equivalent slow version of whatever it is I want to do. I still cough, but like you said, I find that the exercise helps in the long run.
  • PurpleTina
    PurpleTina Posts: 390 Member
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    I was having the same problem, wanted to learn to run, but the asthma was holding me back. I went and saw the asthma nurse at my surgery and we increased the dosage on my steroid (preventer) inhaler. Three months on my lung capacity has improved, I am able to run for an hour or so, and I have been able to drop the steroid dose back down again. I still use my reliever inhaler beforehand, and take it out on a run with me, but have not yet needed to use it again.

    Def worth getting medical help, there are several meds that work well with exercise induced asthma. The first 15 minutes or so can still be a bit hard, but once I am properly warmed up it's fine.
  • kiakanpa
    kiakanpa Posts: 1
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    I have found breathing only through my nose to be a great help with my asthma. It does limit your cardio for the first couple of weeks until you get used to it - and its not very comfortable to start with, but it really works for me.
  • arachniagirl
    arachniagirl Posts: 64 Member
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    How much are you warming up? I find it helps to, for example, walk for several blocks before beginning to run. Or the equivalent slow version of whatever it is I want to do. I still cough, but like you said, I find that the exercise helps in the long run.

    I've been warming up for 5 minutes. How long are you walking before starting to run?
  • nixxy74
    nixxy74 Posts: 106
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    Hi

    May I suggest as an asthma sufferer myself this wee trick worked.


    Go swimming!!! its great cardio and has the added benefit of expanding your lungs, I did this prep work before I even went near a treadmill or x trainer and tbh it worked. make sure you take your pumps with you. clear with your doctor you havent got any chest infections going on ( something which inhibits my/ your lung capacity greatly)
  • SomeoneSomeplace
    SomeoneSomeplace Posts: 1,094 Member
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    I try and start with a slow warm up jog for about 10-15 minutes, I don't normally count this as apart of my exercise. I get my heart rate up but not quite in my target zone and try and keep a steady even pace where it's easy to breathe or even carry on a conversation. I'm on medication that can raise your heart rate, and an inhaler can actually do that as well which is why it's best to do it about a half hour before you exercise. But starting with a slower warm up jog helps your lungs "warm up" also focusing on your breathing and making sure you're not working you heart TOO hard if you're breathing really heavy it might be better to slow down for a bit a let your heart rate go down a bit.
    Also if it's too humid or too cold the air just doesn't work for me and I gotta move my run inside because it bothers my asthma way too much. Some days there's just something in the air that my lungs don't like and I'm having trouble breathing just sitting around, on those days I like to do a lighter work out. Sometimes you just have to listen to your body.
    But my Inhaler has helped but like I said it's best to do it about a half hour before your work out because it will raise your heart rate. Also focus on your breathing when you're running. Make sure you're not gasping Sometimes I litterally count my breaths with my stride in/out in/out with each stride. You can push yourself to a certain extent but you should build up slowly to faster speeds, if your heart rate is too high a certain speed then maybe it's best to save that speed for interval training. So you run at the speed that REALLY gets your heart rate up, for 1/4th a mile or whatever, then you bring it down to a jog to recover and bring your heart rate down into the lower end of your target zone.

    PS- I am also on Singular
  • arachniagirl
    arachniagirl Posts: 64 Member
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    I was having the same problem, wanted to learn to run, but the asthma was holding me back. I went and saw the asthma nurse at my surgery and we increased the dosage on my steroid (preventer) inhaler. Three months on my lung capacity has improved, I am able to run for an hour or so, and I have been able to drop the steroid dose back down again. I still use my reliever inhaler beforehand, and take it out on a run with me, but have not yet needed to use it again.

    Def worth getting medical help, there are several meds that work well with exercise induced asthma. The first 15 minutes or so can still be a bit hard, but once I am properly warmed up it's fine.

    Great advice, thank you. I didn't even think of increasing the dose on my preventer inhaler, my prescription allows me to take it several times a day as needed during periods when my asthma is acting up...I can try taking it more often and will see if that helps at all. If not, I can make an appointment with my specialist to discuss other options.
  • Roboartist
    Roboartist Posts: 99
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    I would suggest asking your doctor or respiratory therapist if you might benefit from using a pulse oximeter.

    You can get them at most pharmacies, they clip to your finger and monitor your blood oxygen saturation levels. You can wear it during exercise but may need to tape it to your finger to secure it. They are relatively inexpensive, under $20.00 and can also be used to monitor saturation when you are having an attack to see how effective your rescue inhaler is.

    I know for me there have been times where I was really going for it exerting myself and I felt out of breath but my oxygen saturation was great. That little clip has even helped me to better gauge if I need my rescue inhaler or not. I have target numbers to look out for and an action plan if I don't meet the numbers during attacks (call, drive to urgent care or call 911). If your physician thinks you would benefit they would probably give you some target range and action plan.

    I second snd third the suggestions to warm up, I feel like my lungs hit their stride about 10-15 minutes in. Good luck to you and definitely talk to your doctor or respiratory therapist ASAP.
  • arachniagirl
    arachniagirl Posts: 64 Member
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    I would suggest asking your doctor or respiratory therapist if you might benefit from using a pulse oximeter.

    What a great idea...I didn't even know you could buy these. I've often wondered if my blood oxygen is low when my muscles feel especially fatigued and I feel dizzy...
    Worth checking into, thanks!
  • arachniagirl
    arachniagirl Posts: 64 Member
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    I think using my preventer inhaler more often was helping a bit, I noticed that it was only taking 10-11 minutes for my breathing to improve instead of 15, so maybe I'm on the right track. Unfortunately right after I increased my dosage I came down with a bad cold and my asthma has really flared up in general. I'm still pushing through my workouts but I've had to slow things way down.

    I get so frustrated dealing with this...I am so jealous of people who can breathe without difficulty. :(
  • momof3and3
    momof3and3 Posts: 656 Member
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    I am a runner...I run 1/2 marathons and 5ks...I have come in 2nd place in 5k's, top 10% in my age group for 1/2's. I also love kick boxing, spinning, crossfit and Zumba.

    I run 6 days a week.

    I have moderate-severe asthma.I have had it since I was 16, and the meds have greatly improved over the years.

    I use advair as my preventive med, it is the only one that holds me. I tried symbicort and after a month, asked my dr to put me back on advair. With the advair, I don't need a rescue inhaler at all before I start a run. Part of asthma is mind over matter. Your shortness of breath and other sypmtons could easliy be that you are out of shape, and that what you are feeling is that, not an asthma attack.

    By all means see your dr, and maybe ask about other meds. Your asthma should be well controlled, and not interfer with your life.

    Good luck!
  • arachniagirl
    arachniagirl Posts: 64 Member
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    Your shortness of breath and other sypmtons could easliy be that you are out of shape, and that what you are feeling is that, not an asthma attack.

    I have thought of this, except that as my workout continues it gets easier, after that initial 10 minutes of struggling then I'm able to go strong. Also, my overall workout capacity is improving with time, I've been able to increase the intensity and duration of my workouts.
  • obeserat
    obeserat Posts: 218 Member
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    I was having problems with blacking out due to coughing after riding my bike to work . I was given a preventative inhaler and that seems to be helping
  • Companero1
    Companero1 Posts: 14 Member
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    I struggled until I started using my preventative 4 times a day instead of 2. I hardly ever use my Ventalin now when training. I asked the Dr before I put my dose up though.
  • arachniagirl
    arachniagirl Posts: 64 Member
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    I was having problems with blacking out due to coughing after riding my bike to work . I was given a preventative inhaler and that seems to be helping

    Wow, that's pretty serious...I've had to go to the hospital a couple times when I couldn't breathe well, but I've never blacked out.
  • arachniagirl
    arachniagirl Posts: 64 Member
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    I increased my preventative inhaler from 1 to 2 times per day. I think it's helping as it seems like it's taking only about 8 minutes now before my lungs open up when I start exercising. Maybe I'll experiment with another dose and see what happens. My doctor said I can use the Symbicort up to 4 times per day if needed.
  • dahliadamask
    dahliadamask Posts: 2 Member
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    Hello everyone

    I'm new to this and always looking for tips on how other people deal with asthma and exercise, so just thought I'd share my experiences! I started getting exercise induced asthma about 2 years ago, which did completely stop me doing any exercise, even walking outside in the cold would get me wheezing, which was pretty depressing (and scary!) for someone who had never ever had asthma in her life before! I got a ventolin inhaler from the doctors to use before exercise, which I did use 15 minutes before exercise and this I found completely stopped the wheezing symptoms during and after exercise, which was a relief to finally be able to be active again..... however....

    I am generally someone who doesn't really like relying on medicines and is always looking for other solutions.So, did A LOT of research on the internet and came across the Buteyko method, which you may have heard of. There's lots of free information about it on the internet and free youtube videos of some of the exercises. In a nutshell, it is a Russian breathing method based on the theory that asthmatics overbreathe, which causes a lack of CO2 (the breathing exercises are all based on increasing the level of CO2 by breath holding etc). I bought a book on my kindle called 'Close your mouth' by Patrick Mcewan as I'd seen his videos on youtube, but there are lots of others out there, I just personally liked his style.

    Anyway, the key points that I have been using for exercise are :

    1. always keep your mouth closed at all times, NEVER open your mouth when you're exercising (too much oxygen/air not filtered by nose before getting to lungs)
    2. always do a gentle warm up first (at least 10 minutes) of something like walking in which you restrict your breathing. This is the really important part-do this by breathing in then out and not breathing back in for about 10 steps. Wait about 10 secs then repeat. This way you are building up a supply of CO2 in the body before exercising.


    I've started the 30day shred recently and the first time I did it, I didn't do the Buteyko warm up and hadn't taken my ventolin either and had to stop and take my inhaler after 7 minutes in and then couldn't carry on as I felt so whacked!

    Next day, I didn't take ventolin but I did do the buteyko warm up and did the full 30 day shred with NO wheezing!! Now I always do the Buteyko warm up before exercising and I have felt no wheezing symptoms (apart from having to stop and catch my breath on the cardio sections at points but I think that might be more cause I'm now out of shape due to avoiding exercise, rather than the ole' asthma!.

    I'm sharing this because Buteyko has been a real amazing revelation for me, and I wish something as simple as the important keeping your mouth closed was the first piece of advice given to asthmatics!

    Really hope this advice is helpful or at least interesting to read for everyone, be interested to know if anyone else has had similar results to me with Buteyko?
  • krystal_black
    krystal_black Posts: 86
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    I have severe asthma, been on every med out there, I have found that using an inhaler before my workout helps a bit. Anyone have tips on how to continue to exercise when going through asthma exacerbation?

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