Distance Running w/ Asthma

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melaniefave41
melaniefave41 Posts: 222 Member
edited May 2015 in Fitness and Exercise
Training for a 25k with a new diagnosis of asthma, looking for the advice of others who run with asthma. Just let me know your how.

If you don't run and and/or have asthma, please shut your *kitten* mouth, I'm an educated woman who works in the medical field and really am not interested in a ton of bee ess.

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  • lnel1713
    lnel1713 Posts: 4 Member
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    I have seasonal asthma so the spring is hard on me. I find that if I am very well hydrated I don't produce has much mucus and it's easier on my lungs. I am running my first 25K this weekend, and I just keep telling myself it's all about the pace! ( I also take a preventative inhaler and run with my emergency inhaler in my shorts pocket) Slow and steady when you are increasing your mileage and it's not worth pushing your lungs so hard you have an attack and damage them. Good luck!!
  • hypotrochoid
    hypotrochoid Posts: 842 Member
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    Make sure to have a good cool down- don't just run it and stop. Even without asthma a sudden stop can be hard on the lungs.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
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    melaniefave41 wrote: »
    .... a new diagnosis of asthma, ....

    A new diagnosis?

    Given that you're presumably already a runner, training for a 25K, then a new diagnosis would suggest a very different situation than an existing asthmatic looking to start running. Most of the commentary that I've sen pertains to the latter, rather than the former. I'd also note that advice doe tend to vary depending on how one exhibits the symptoms.

    What led to your diagnosis?

  • melaniefave41
    melaniefave41 Posts: 222 Member
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    I had a very nasty few months of bronchitis over the winter that feels like I have never recovered from.... doc said I probably never noticed the asthma before as I wasn't running as much and had just gotten used to it. I use Advair twice daily and also have albuterol to use in between, and before and after runs. Some days havin the inhaler to use before and after really helps and other days it seems like a waste and I get a little frustrated with myself. I am not sure how much, if at all, I should push myself to keep running when I am feeling out of breath. I have been oscillating between that and just taking quick walk breaks as needed.
  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
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    For some people, Singulair really helps with exercise induced asthma. It's an all or nothing type drug, it either helps, or does nothing, 50-50 shot approximately, according to my kids' pulmonologist. Also if you have seasonal allergies, it helps to train indoors.
  • soldiergrl_101
    soldiergrl_101 Posts: 2,205 Member
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    I love to run but I have bad asthma. I swim 3x a week because this helps reduce the symptoms of asthma when I run during the week
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
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    I have gone through periods with asthma for really my entire. For me it has always been from my lungs being weakened over a period of time and it takes a while for them to recover. I have not had to hit my inhaler for a few months now (luckily) but every time it flares up it really takes just constant vigil over taking meds as needed. I use a combo of antihistamines (Allegra works best for me), albuterol inhaler, and when in recovery mode also have had luck with the Advair discs and even some steroids for the worst cases. It takes about a full year of not getting walloped with bronchitis, pneumonia or similar things. On a down year if something starts up I go straight to the doctor and try to get it dealt with immediately. Otherwise the clock starts all over again.

    This is just me though. Your case could be entirely different.
  • Daisy471
    Daisy471 Posts: 409 Member
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    How long have you been using Advair and are your symptoms controlled except while running? My suggestion is to not push too much with running until you have a preventative regime established that controls your asthma on a day-to-day basis. When you feel ready, increase your distance/pace slowly and see how you feel. Hopefully you have a little time before your 25k.

    I was diagnosed with asthma and allergies when I was 8, and was told to avoid sports & running. I started seeing an allergist several years ago and she had me try different combinations of preventative medications. What works best for me is Pulmicort and Singular daily, with an albuterol inhaler as needed. She did say to use the albuterol about 30 minutes before a run. To me, it seems like the more I run the stronger my lungs are and I have fewer symptoms (I have no idea if this is medically possible, but it's how I feel). It may take me longer to add distance or increase my pace, but I no longer feel like I am limited by my lungs.

    Good luck on your 25k - I ran my first one last month and loved it!

    Oh, and I always thought that I couldn't run in the cold because of my asthma, but I found out that it's not too bad as long as I am running regularly throughout the fall/early winter as the temperatures drop. In February I ran a 5k with air temps around -10 and -30 wind chill and no breathing issues.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
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    melaniefave41 wrote: »
    I use Advair twice daily and also have albuterol to use in between, and before and after runs. Some days havin the inhaler to use before and after really helps and other days it seems like a waste and I get a little frustrated with myself.

    I have used Salbutamol in the past, but for me generally using in advance was enough when I felt it might be useful. I suspect there are too many variables for anyone on here to give you anything useful.

    Is it worth a view from a specialist rathr than GP?

  • rcontr7
    rcontr7 Posts: 61 Member
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    I have pretty bad allergy and exercise induced asthma and find that using mucinex on days when I'm experiencing post nasal drip from allergies, taking allergy medication and using my albuterol inhaler around 10-15 min before exercising helps so much. If I use it right before, I get asthma. I can't use it while exercising because it just doesn't seem to work.
  • PeachyPlum
    PeachyPlum Posts: 1,243 Member
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    melaniefave41 wrote: »
    Training for a 25k with a new diagnosis of asthma, looking for the advice of others who run with asthma. Just let me know your how.

    If you don't run and and/or have asthma, please shut your *kitten* mouth, I'm an educated woman who works in the medical field and really am not interested in a ton of bee ess.

    Holy hell, was that really necessary? That's quite a warning.

    I have found that hitting my albuterol about 45 minutes before my run is a great preventive, but obviously what works for one person won't work for another. Mucinex an hour or two before is also helpful on days when my asthma is likely to play up (mine tends to be very sensitive to humidity changes and air quality).

    I carry my rescue inhaler and mucinex on me for long runs, in case my asthma acts up.

    I would also recommend you wear some type of ID that would notify first responders of your asthma and of any meds you might be on - just in case you ever got sick while running. A RoadID or MedicAlert bracelet are good options. I'm cheap and my emergency contact info changes regularly, so I just use a luggage tag holder on a lanyard around my neck and update the card inside as needed... Just something to make sure I get the right kind of help if I ever need it.

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