Anyone else have asthma?

Sure do.

I've had asthma all my life. It was classified as chronic/acute early on. So, if I don't take my meds, I will be symptomatic. Acute as I can go into severe attacks quickly. Exercise has always brought it on and made it worse.

For the past few years, I've been taking Singulair and Advair. Since I've done that, and limited/eliminated the foods that can exasperate it, I've done very well. So well, that I don't take my rescue inhaler prior to exercise anymore and I simply don't have problems. I did join a gym because we tend to have a pollution problem where I live, and exercising outside is just not healthy on high pollution days. That may have helped, also. Also, chlorine pools tend to be something of an issue for me, particularly when the humidity is a little higher or the pollution is bad.

Last year my doctor said that the new school of thought with asthma is that even with exercise, if you have to reach for your rescue inhaler more than once every couple weeks, then your asthma is being undertreated. You may want to have a chat with your doc and see if there are any other options for you. I know Advair has come under scrutiny lately, but it's been a lifesaver for me.

I've had asthma all my life. It was classified as chronic/acute early on. So, if I don't take my meds, I will be symptomatic. Acute as I can go into severe attacks quickly. Exercise has always brought it on and made it worse.

For the past few years, I've been taking Singulair and Advair. Since I've done that, and limited/eliminated the foods that can exasperate it, I've done very well. So well, that I don't take my rescue inhaler prior to exercise anymore and I simply don't have problems. I did join a gym because we tend to have a pollution problem where I live, and exercising outside is just not healthy on high pollution days. That may have helped, also. Also, chlorine pools tend to be something of an issue for me, particularly when the humidity is a little higher or the pollution is bad.

Last year my doctor said that the new school of thought with asthma is that even with exercise, if you have to reach for your rescue inhaler more than once every couple weeks, then your asthma is being undertreated. You may want to have a chat with your doc and see if there are any other options for you. I know Advair has come under scrutiny lately, but it's been a lifesaver for me.

I've had asthma all my life and I agree with everything you've said. When I was young some of the doctors recommended I didn't participate in sports but my parents allowed me to swim and plan volleyball. They also encouraged me to be outside when I didn't have symptoms. Now as long as I have the right amount of inhaler and a good medicine I do well. But I still can't run without triggering an attack.

I've done the allergy shot therapy twice and experienced no significant relief. My brother, who also has severe asthma, has done them and done fairly well with it. I do still get more than my share of respiratory illnesses...it's an odd year I don't get bronchitis, and when that happens, I have to take rounds of antibiotics and steroids.

I know it's different for everyone, and it seems to be particularly difficult for children. Talk to your doctor, and if he seems to be somewhat nonagressive in his approach., go to someone else. Also, certain foods really can be a problem...for me it's dairy, soy, and too much citris. It can be a difficult disease, but it can also be manageable.

Singulair is used both for asthma and treat those with seasonal allergy induced asthma. I take it and Advair year round. If jogging is a problem for you, then don't. Walk. Chances are any exercise that will make you breath hard will bring on asthma symptoms. But, if you have a time, a nice long walk can do wonders for you. I really encourage you to talk to your doctor more. PM me if you want to talk more.

yes, caffiene absolutely helps. It is not a treatment, cure or preventative, but caffiene in the form of strong black coffee or tea, does help the symptoms. But, if you put sugar or any dairy in your coffee, or drink soda, forget it.

By the way, lyla, I'm not suggesting you give caffiene to your kids without first talking to your doctor. It's not a home remedy. I would drink it when I was having a severe attack as it brought some miniscule relief until the folks could get me to the hospital. Your doctor or specialist can give you lots of information about how to help your kids. It's a tough road, but education is key. Good luck to everyone.

And back to exercise and asthma...exercise is strongly encouraged for asthmatics. The key is to work with your doctor to have the right meds to exercise and know what your individual triggers are, be it foods, pets, carpeting, humidity, dust, emotional distress, what have you.

Good luck everyone!

My best friend wants me to run with her and swim. But this always triggers an attack. I can't get the air in and I get so exausted. What are some of your favorite workouts that don't trigger an attack? I think I was diagnosed as a child but wasn't treated for it ever because my parents couldn't afford insurance for me.

If your best friend has a different fitness level than you, you may be jumping into something your body's just not ready for.
I've been an asthmatic all my life, and as a child I was prohibited from playing sports, running, or otherwise doing anything that could agitate my asthma. The nebulizer, the inhaler, the allergy medications, the recurring pneumonia...did it all.
A few years ago, I decided enough is enough...and if pro athletes like Jerome Bettis, formerly of the Steelers, can have asthma and still be athletes...then darn it...so could I. I was so tired of being told what I couldn't do, along with all the weight that came along with never doing.
But I started EVER SO SLOWLY. It took me months and months to work up to a mile of running, and even then, a 'real runner' friend of mine thought it was hilarious that I was jogging at 4 mph on the treadmill.
Now, I generally run around three miles, six days a week.

I never stop to use my inahler. I don't need other medications to keep it under control, and only have symptoms when I catch an upper respiratory infection.

Start slow.
Take it easy.
Trust your body to let you know how much it can handle at a time.

Exactly. It took me a year to build up to a 1 mile run outside. By the second year I was up to 6 miles. Starting is the hardest. Take it slow, know the triggers, and go.

I find this site helpful. http://www.asthmainformationguide.com/

I've had allergies since I was 6yrs...developed the asthma when we moved to Oregon in 2003....the grass pollen capital of the world! Found a wonderful asthma doctor. After several experiments with meds, we came up with Advair 500/50 daily to reduce the inflammation, Zyrtec (now over the counter) and Flonase. I still feel it a bit when I swim, take a hit off the ol' Albuterol before I jump in.

That is very similar to what my son does. He has allergies to grass, and once we found out he had asthma, we took him to an asthma/allergy doctor who put him on Singulair, Advair, Nasonex, and now another nose spray. His allergies aren't too bad in the summer, so he only takes the Singulair then, and if he needs to he also does the Advair.

My middle son was put on Singulair when he was about 4, but it made him very hyper (he has a lot of energy anyway, but he went super hyper:laugh: ) so they changed it to zyrtec and an inhailer called Q-var, and his is pretty much under control. My youngest developed asthma at about 6 months old, and has been taking Singulair since then.

I was told that they might outgrow the asthma since they got it at a young age, but it seems to get worse every year with all of the pollen and strange weather patterns. I just hope to get my oldest son to do the allergy shots and hope they work so he doesn't have to keep taking 5-6 medicines everyday.

We are also very concerned with having to give them steroids when their cough gets out of control, so we'll see how the allergy shots go.

i have astham my whole life, when i was younger i was in and out of hospital for a least 2-3weeks at a tiime 5-6 times a year, especially around xmas, i used to dance alot which i loved but my doctors made me give it up because it was affecting my asthma which really sucked as i loved it.

i tried to start the couch to 5k but since i did it my chest has been very tight and that was 3 days ago, my mum drove past me and told me to get into the car because she seen i couldnt get a breath, and been taking my inhaler a lot since last.

but i take walks and now im back to dancing once a week but i still need to take it easy and on days were im bad i cant exercise at all, or else itll bring on an attack - im on a ventonlin inhaler, singular and simbicort inhaler.

plus i have a topic exzema (which is under control with nerol), hayfever and allergies which i take a load of medication for lol.

My best friend wants me to run with her and swim. But this always triggers an attack. I can't get the air in and I get so exausted. What are some of your favorite workouts that don't trigger an attack? I think I was diagnosed as a child but wasn't treated for it ever because my parents couldn't afford insurance for me.

I have issues when I run and swim as well, but I've found the elliptical to be much easier on my lungs while still getting a great work out as long as you have appropriate resistance settings. I just focus on nice even breaths and I can do an hour or so and not even touch my emergency inhaler. Best of luck to you!