Exercise Induced Asthma

Anyone have it? Suggestions?

I guess I need to go see the doc. I think this is more than "Hey, you're fat and out of shape". A couple of minutes into heavy exercise I start coughing. It's not constant, but there is a tickle there in the back of my throat.
That tickle persists for at least an hour after I'm done. It's three hours since I left the gym and I still have a little cough- it eases off as time passes by after exercise.

If you have this, is this how you presented? Sound like something else?

Replies

  • jenniferswooten
    jenniferswooten Posts: 137 Member
    I had the same symptoms for the first 2 weeks after I started running. After that, it stopped. Someone told me it was my lungs getting used to being so open or something like that.
  • smilingirisheyes
    smilingirisheyes Posts: 149 Member
    I have it, and have an inhaler in case of emergency.

    For me, it acts up with cardio, getting can worse the whole time for close to 20 minutes. Then I hit a magical (and predictable) moment when I'm breathing more freely than ever. However, I would not push myself to that point wthout in inhaler on hand.
  • CoraGregoryCPA
    CoraGregoryCPA Posts: 1,087 Member
    My sister is about a size 8 but large in the breast area. She does not workout at all. If she does anything close to a workout, she gets "asthma". I don't believe it. I think she is out of shape and her chest area is probably hard on her. I'd think if she worked on working out and improving her health that she would be fine. However, she got a doctor to agree with her, now she has an inhaler. Go see a doctor and see what he says. Good Luck!
  • Eve23
    Eve23 Posts: 2,352 Member
    I start wheezing during exercise. So at this point I still take it slow. My main exercise is walking and stairs. I no longer wheeze all the time but my lungs still need time to heal and regain the capacity they once did.

    Be aware of where you are and what you can handle. You can definately get checked to see what their opinion would be.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Definitely go to an asthma specialist.

    When I got on a control inhaler it literally changed my life. I became virtually asymptomatic. Hardly ever used the rescue inhaler.

    But then when I started exercising, I would get pretty bad attacks during cardio.

    The solution to this was to take the rescue inhaler about 20-30 minutes prior to exercising. That helped tremendously.

    Over time, as I got more fit, the asthma sort of faded into the background. Hardly ever use inhalers any more. I've stopped taking the control inhaler. I take the rescue inhaler once in a blue as needed.
  • Morgaine_on_the_move
    Morgaine_on_the_move Posts: 228 Member
    I have it. I was diagnosed when I was 9 and it hasn't let up. I take two different inhalers, a long-acting one in the morning and a short-acting one right before I do cardio. I've had asthma attacks before when I was in high school and college--not fun! Felt like I was going to die. Sometimes when it is really cold outside and I run, my chest gets tight and I start wheezing, but it's not a full-blown attack like I used to have when it wasn't controlled with medication.
    I don't even think about having to take my inhalers because I'm so used to it. I run and do intense plyo and dance hard and am in great cardiovascular shape. It doesn't inhibit me from exercising. Get it checked out!
  • I have and carry a rescue inhaler in case of emergency..( I am also on two inhalers and one pill) that I take daily to keep it at bay. Mine manifests itself as coughing but also as tightness in chest and throat, and very short of breath, It also depends on the exercise.. I can run 5 miles in cooler weather without using my inhaler and within 1 mile on a humid day I am desperately in need of it.. or if I am doing a HIIT workout or kickboxing workout I am quicker to have an attack verses distance running. Check with your doctor, if they think it's asthma they can send you for a pulmonary function test to be sure.
  • MeanSophieCat
    MeanSophieCat Posts: 200 Member
    I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma when I was 10. Yep, it is real. I was 10, healthy weight, and very active. One day while being very active, I couldn't breathe.

    My asthma is tied to my allergies. I have really bad seasonal allergies. When my allergies are bad, I need a control inhaler and a rescue inhaler. When my allergies are good, I rarely use them. Doesn't matter whether I'm in great shape or not.

    You can start with a primary care doctor and they can refer you. They have all sorts of tests to determine lung capacity and a lot of other things.