Asthma & Allergy Sufferers......

I had what my doctor called "uncontrolled" asthma my entire life. I always had two rescue inhalers, but they were forever running out because I used them all the time. For a long time, I couldn't do any cardio workout without using both inhalers first. Several times I tried to train myself to not need them and found I couldn't even run half a mile! Pretty lame. For almost a year now, I've been on Dulera, a long-acting steroid combined with a rescue ingredient. It's changed my life. Before, I used to feel terrible every night and have a tough time sleeping, feeling as though a cat were sittng on my chest. Now, I have no problems at any time of day. I take two puffs every night, and I can exercise, sleep, run up and down the stairs, you name it. It's the best medical decision I've ever made. As for the allergies, I've been dealing with those, concurrently, my whole life, as well. I used to get shots every week and they never helped, and I've come to accept that I just have to deal with that crap. Yeah, it sucks for a few weeks out of the year (well, let's be honest: months) but allergies don't have to ruin your life. I found that the Benadryl dissolving strips work the best: they don't make you sleepy, but they take the edge off your allergy issues. If you can find them, I highly recommend them. I can't take a daily allergy pill like Claritin because I take the Pill and wear contacts, and that combination can dry the eyes out too much. Very painful. But I have two cats and lots of gardens, and I don't plan on giving anything up.

I hope any of this helps! Ask your pulmonologist about Dulera. I wasn't kidding before, it seriously changed my life.

i have exercised induced asthma which means i suffer from
Coughing with asthma
Tightening of the chest
Wheezing
Unusual fatigue while exercising
Shortness of breath when exercising

I do have regular asthma but it only occurs when i'm having an allergy attack and i'm not getting enough air into my lungs.
I have to be very careful when exercising because if i'm in an area that has limited air flow, or has allergens in it that i'm allergic to, i can't breathe. My solution is using my inhaler, as well as taking an antihistamine so my lungs will open up better. I think the key is to slowly build up your workouts. i know because i am also overweight, the exercise induced asthma is also happening because i'm out of shape. So i slowly build up my cardio and practice deep breathing to prevent my face from getting really red.

Hopefully this helps??

I have exercise induced asthma as well. It's only mild though (it's been bas this winter when I hadn't had issues for a year). As long as I use my inhaler right before I work out I'm usually ok. I also use it right after sometimes if I have the chest tightness. Keeping up with my allergy meds really helps. I take OTC zyrtec (2 pills) every day.

Allergies can really kill you. I spent one winter vacations (I took about 1 1/2 weeks off work over Christmas) so miserable and I couldn't figure it out. Finally found out I was allergic to cats and dogs (which at that point I had 2 cats and 1 dog). Once I got on the allergy medicine train things got substantially better.

My asthma has always been bad, since I was diagnosed at 5 years old. I think living with it all these years I have just kept a lifestyle that made it easy for me. I never participated in gym (had passed out many times from asthma attacks and even with an inhaler I had severe attacks)

However with incremental increases in activity and the use Symbicort as a preventor and a treatment I managed to start running although since I have not been able to practice running even heavy cardio for less than a minute makes me feel completely out of breath and gasping for air. This history of my experience shows that with slow increases in activity over time you can increase your endurance as long as you continue your medication with proper use. Just take it slowly and don't get discouraged.

I had pretty bad asthma all during childhood, and up until I was about 15. I went the allergy shot route then, and was actually doing fine for the last 25 years or so. Now I've been having sinus issues, and after 2 years of chronic sinus infections, am getting shots again. They aren't fun, but I will say I've had no sinus infections this year so far, and I"m still in the beginning stages of the shots. I figured they worked for almost 30 years, I guess I'll do it again.

That said, I've also been hearing a lot lately (from a local doctor, some CrossFit trainers, and others) about how much diet can affect these "inflammatory" reactions. A lot of people around me have been going Paleo for 30 days (even the doc) to see if eliminating dairy and grains clears up their issues -- even respiratory ones. Almost every single one says they have little to no allergy symptoms now (asthma/sinus), even though they didn't feel allergic to any foods. The doctor (and endocrinologist herself) was actually able to eliminate all her allergy meds after switching up her diet. She's now opening a practice focusing on these chronic issues and their link to nutrition, allergies, etc.

I haven't tried it myself, but am definitely considering it. It can't hurt.

Hang in there -- as Dfracassa said, there are lots of very good meds out there now for controlling asthma (many more than when I was a kid in the '70's / '80's), so don't give up.

As for running and exercise, once my symptoms were under control, I was able to really work on my breathing techniques during exercise (concentrating on breathing deeply in and out in a very regular pattern) and eventually to run often and far. I ran a 1/2 marathon last spring. I look like a fish when I do it, but it works.

That said, I've also been hearing a lot lately (from a local doctor, some CrossFit trainers, and others) about how much diet can affect these "inflammatory" reactions. A lot of people around me have been going Paleo for 30 days (even the doc) to see if eliminating dairy and grains clears up their issues -- even respiratory ones. Almost every single one says they have little to no allergy symptoms now (asthma/sinus), even though they didn't feel allergic to any foods. The doctor (and endocrinologist herself) was actually able to eliminate all her allergy meds after switching up her diet. She's now opening a practice focusing on these chronic issues and their link to nutrition, allergies, etc.

Everyone is different, but low carb doesn't do a thing for my allergies/asthma as far as I can tell.

On days when the air quality is even near the yellow I'm sick and fatigued and short of breath. It's as simple as that.

I have mod severe asthma, with allergies, exzema and hayfever and have had it my entire life. I have to take my inhalers before I work out everytime and sometimes during especially when doing cardio. I am also on countless other medications.

I still cant do an awful lot of cardio so I keep it light. I cant run at all because it induces my asthma and I always take an asthma attack. I tend to do light cardio and incorprate weights also because it is just not realistic for my health to be doing running or HIIT workouts.

I remember doing a bootcamp one morning, I made it through the class but had to stop near then end when I was starting to take an asthma attack. My mum freaked when she seen me, I was bright red and my lips had turned blue. I was ill for a week after that. It is just not worth it in the end.

I am sure there are others that can give you a better success story but unfornatly for me nothing has worked.

Thanks
Trudy

I have had pretty severe allergies and asthma for about 15 years. I find that when I exercise regularly, the asthma gets better, probably because my cardio system is in better shape. The main thing is to be careful, know your limits, and keep an inhaler with you when you exercise. If I know I'll be outside, I make sure I take a bunch of sudafed/claritin before hand -- don't wait for symptoms to develop.

I have had pretty bad asthma for most of my life. I also have a lot of allergies. I live in Ohio where my allergies tend to be really awful. I have found that in addition to medications doing a sinus rinse twice a day helps a lot. I have also found that sometimes it helps to exercise through my issues because it strengthens my lungs. Right now I have a bad sinus infection and my lungs were really acting up. As soon as I started back up on my treadmill my lungs calmed down. It will take a while to figure out what works for you, but just keep in good communication with your allergist.

I feel bad for you. The only place I ever felt sicker than here was Ohio, and that was just driving through!

I have had asthma since I was 2 and have been on allergy shots the works.

The asthma/allergy specialist I see found some research that shows Vitamin D3 helps with allergy symptoms. I take 5,000IU daily for the past couple of years. I have stopped taking allergy shots, reduced the nub and only need a small over the counter allergy pill for about 2 weeks in the spring when the pollen levels are really high.

For asthma, I have found that everyone is different. At last test I have about 70% use of my lungs. With that I am still running, the key for me is when I use my rescue inhailer, I use mine 30min-1hour prior to exercise. Running for me is more about training by lungs and learning how to breathe correctly. But needless to say there are still some days I can't run very well.

Good Luck. I hope you get some good answers.

By no means a guaranteed cure, but something to keep in mind:

http://www.webmd.com/asthma/features/asthma-and-cities-which-cities-ran-best

"Asthma experts say that geography can play a role in a person's asthma symptoms. Many of the cities that ranked well on the AAFA's survey were on the water. For instance, three of the ten better cities for asthma were on the coast in Florida."

I'm thinking about Seattle if I stay in the US.

I also have asthma with allergies. I have to dust my walls and my ceilings twice a week. I wash the small area rugs twice a month. I actually hang a sheer curtain on my big bookshelves to help control the dust. Mold is an issue as well. I do quite a bit of housecleaning every day. I also had to remove my pets from my house. No more animals for me.

I can remember when I could only walk for two minutes and be out of breath from asthma. I was on steroids for two weeks out of every month for nearly three years. I was hospitalized for five days from asthma two years ago. I can certainly empathize with you.

Even though I no longer take steroids with the frequency that I used to, I am still taking medications for the asthma. I have also used herbal tinctures. I irrigate my sinuses with a saline solution every night which helps as well. I ended up having sinus surgery because of chronic sinus infections....which happens to exasperate asthma .

I can offer you some hope when it comes to exercise with asthma. Don't give up or feel you will not be able to exercise again. Just take it slow and keep at it. If you can only walk for two minutes at a time, that is OK. Walk for two minutes and then rest. Repeat it and keep going.

Yesterday my fitbit said that I walked 7399 steps and that I traveled 2.8 miles. I never thought that would happen and it did.

That's where I live, Ohio....lol

Move. No seriously, move.

I have had asthma and allergies since I was little. Its basically under control now except when the junipers are pollinating.
Swimming is a good exercise for people with asthma and allergies. The humidity helps keep the lungs clear. I also suggest using your rescue inhaler before workouts if you are having problems breathing during cardio. Talk to you allergist about your exercise plan and goals.They can help you develop a good plan for your goals.