advice for severe asthmatic

I find that I hit a point in workouts where I feel like the pain in my lungs might make me implode, or like i am breathing through a coffee straw. I try to focus very clearly on my breathing.....in through the nose, out through the mouth. Stay steady and moderated, keep your chin down and try to keep from gasping, find a pace where you are sweating but can push through without the rescue inhaler.

At a certain point I can punch through and the need for the inhaler stops and I can keep going. I do find that I need to fluctuate the intensity A LOT. If I hit a wall and start to feel difficulty breathing, I try to focus on breathing evenly, hydrate and moderate pace.

Once in the E.R. ( long time back) a doctor told me to make sure I was well hydrated (water). His theory was water carries oxygen to the body.

Best of luck and just keep pushing forward!

TeacupsAndToning wrote: »

fatal_degree wrote: »

I find that I hit a point in workouts where I feel like the pain in my lungs might make me implode, or like i am breathing through a coffee straw. I try to focus very clearly on my breathing.....in through the nose, out through the mouth. Stay steady and moderated, keep your chin down and try to keep from gasping, find a pace where you are sweating but can push through without the rescue inhaler.

At a certain point I can punch through and the need for the inhaler stops and I can keep going. I do find that I need to fluctuate the intensity A LOT. If I hit a wall and start to feel difficulty breathing, I try to focus on breathing evenly, hydrate and moderate pace.

Once in the E.R. ( long time back) a doctor told me to make sure I was well hydrated (water). His theory was water carries oxygen to the body.

Best of luck and just keep pushing forward!

As an asthmatic I would never recommend allowing yourself to work out so hard you feel like your lungs will implode or you can barely breathe and then not take your rescue inhaler.

Also as an asthmatic I agree. You should take your emergency inhaler as many times as you need it but if you're taking it more than a couple times a week you need to talk to your DR about getting on a controller puffer.

I take an inhaled corticosteroid but when my asthma was not controlled I could not and would not workout. I'm still scared of doing any intense exercise because I've spent many days and nights in the hospital with severe asthma attacks. Not fun.

If your asthma is very severe and not well controlled I'd advise you not to do any strenuous activity at all until you have it under control. Especially at your weight even light exercise might be too intense. Exercise is not needed for weight loss.

If you must do exercise definitely talk to your doctor before you start any exercise plan. Asthma, especially severe asthma, is not something to take lightly. Attacks could be sudden and could be fatal. It's best to not take that risk.

Again, take your emergency inhaler WHENEVER you need to and if you feel an attack coming on STOP.

Definitely talk to your pulmonologist to develop an action plan.

You don’t have to exercise to lose weight, and losing weight may help your asthma symptoms by itself.