Asthma - Do I Need To Change My Training?

[[old] mallard]

After several episodes of an unexplained cough which would not shift I was prescribed a Peak Flow Meter by my doctor. The readings at the end of 2 weeks were not conclusive, but suggested a mild asthma which, I think, was being set off by a combination of high pollen levels and pb attempts with shorter distances on my C2. What should I be doing in terms of rowing? My thought is that maybe I should stick to the longer distances for now and avoid the all-out sprints. Does anyone have any experiences or advice they could share. After 1 week on preventive am/pm inhaler my Peak Flow has improved from an average of 450 up to about 550. I have done a couple of 5-10ks at - I would guess - UT2 just to see how it went with no problems (touch wood). Any comments gratefully accepted - I just want to get back to a regular rowing routine. I did invest in a Power Breathe before this all happened - should I use it now or not?

[[old] bmoore]

I'm sure you'll hear this from everyone, but check with your doctor.<br /><br />I too had a cough that wouldn't go away at the beginning of May, and my doctor said it was a bit of asthma. I got the purple inhaler (Advair?), and after a few weeks that seemed to fix the test results they were getting. (FYI, I'm a 39 year old male).<br /><br />I had just started really working out on the erg, and have been doing over 100k meters per week since the beginning of June. Based on a physical exam two weeks ago, I don't need to worry about the asthma for now. It may come back, but it doesn't seem to be a factor anymore. (I had wheezing at night when I went to sleep before that I didn't really notice, but now that it's gone, I can recall it).<br /><br />Best of luck to you with treating this. It can be a significant health problem, so please don't use my results to do something without consulting your doctor first.

[[old] mallard]

Hi<br /><br />Thanks for that - sounds v similar to my experience and I've got Advair too. I'm going back to see the doctor (not a specialist) in a week's time so I'll see what he says. His view was very much give the inhaler a go for a couple of weeks, and in those 2 weeks do everything you would normally do and try some more intense workouts to see what happens. I did a 10k yesterday morning and felt great, then another 12k last night and again feel great. Watch this space. As the daughter of a doctor I always consult my father first and my own doctor second and compare notes! But neither of them do much exercise, although my father aged 75 is starting to use the C2 at the gym!<br /><br />FYI I am a 39 year old too - maybe there is something about being born in 1965/66?

[[old] Rob Collings]

I've got asthma and with proper control I don't notice it during training at all. I take a preventer morning and night and also a reliever before training. See what the doc says, but if you don't feel any trouble then keep going. First onset of symptoms, stop.<br /><br />Of course, here in the UK some beurocrat has decided that it isn't really asthma unless you show a 20% drop in peak flow readings taken morning and night. ????? No such thing as mild asthma anymore - you either have it or you don't! Not to mention that mine is exercise induced so resting peak flows are 'normal.' Grr.. Now I've got to train until I get symptomatic and hope I get a reading that meets the cutoff. I can just see that - go to the gym, "what are you doing today" "giving myself and asthma attack". hmm.<br /><br />There have been plenty of asthmatic athletes over the years. Properly controlled, it shouldn't interfere with training at all.<br /><br />Rob.

[[old] Citroen]

<!--QuoteBegin-Rob Collings+Jul 5 2005, 12:59 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Rob Collings @ Jul 5 2005, 12:59 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->There have been plenty of asthmatic athletes over the years. Properly controlled, it shouldn't interfere with training at all.<br /><br />Rob. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Everyone's favourite marathon runner (Paula Radcliffe) is asthmatic.<br /><a href='http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medical ... ewsid=8554' target='_blank'>http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medical ... id=8554</a>

[[old] mallard]

Well I never knew that - there is hope for me yet!!!

[[old] bmoore]

I guess I spoke too soon... I had a follow up with my doctor, and I just wanted to be sure she didn't want me on Advair. She decided to run a test to be sure, but there's still something there, so it's back on the Advair.<br /><br />My mom also got asthma when she was about 40, so I guess it's an adult-onset thing we'll have to live with.<br /><br />On a really good note, my cholesterol dropped from 210 a year ago to 147 (HDL 52, LDL 86, Trigl - 46). I dropped 30 pounds and have been getting in lots of meters in lately. I guess I'm ahead on this trade off. (Of course, I probably would have had both problems if I didn't get in shape, but you get the point).

[[old] kjjpdx]

<!--QuoteBegin-mallard+Jul 5 2005, 06:30 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mallard @ Jul 5 2005, 06:30 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Well I never knew that - there is hope for me yet!!!  <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi, I had that problem with other sports and someone suggested I see my dr. I ended up seeing the nurse practicioner. She said I had exercise induced asthma. She gave me a scprit for an albuterol inhaler--pretty cheap and I just use it before I go to work out, and I'm fine. If I forget, I have to stop after about 10 minutes of any activity because I'm wheezing so much and I just can't get enough air. <br /><br />But definately check with your doctor because you want to make sure you won't have a serious asthma attack. Those are really scary, and it's always better to be safe than sorry!

[[old] slo_boat]

Asthma does not have to limit athletic activity. There have been Olympic level athletes in a variety of sports that have been able to manage their asthma. I also know of a few ultramarathon trail runners that have competed in spite of asthma.<br /><br />The key is to find a doctor that won't simply tell you that if exercise triggers your asthma then don't exercise. (We've all had the experience of doctors that take the easy way out instead of working with you so that you can do the things you want to be able to do.)<br /><br />Don't ignore your asthma though, it is a potentially serious and potentially life-threatening condition. It is usually managed with a combination of drugs. One class of drugs "opens the airways." Albuteral is one of those. These drugs are typically fast acting and are used right before or during exercise or in the event of an "attack." Other drugs reduce inflamation or inhibit some types of cell responses. These drugs are usually taken daily and can be thought of as "maintenance."<br /><br />Some people believe that choline has anti-inflamatory proeprties and may help alleviate asthma symptons. Some athletes have discovered that proper warm ups before intense efforts helps prevent symptoms. You may be able to avoid extreme cold, high heat, or very dry air if those things trigger your asthma.<br /><br />As I said earlier though, the key is to find a medical practitioner that will work with you to find a solution. Your relationship with the doc should be a partnership in which both of you are working to find a solution.<br /><br />Good Luck!

[[old] michael]

The effects of asthma can be mitigated to some extent by including more omega-3 fatty acids into one's diet. There seems to be a strong correlation between higher than average intake of omega-3s and improved lung function. The same can be said for increasing intake of dietary antioxidants. In a British survey of 46,000 people conducted in 2001, it was found that those with the highest intake of fruits and vegetables had a 30 percent lower risk of asthma compared with those who had the lowest intake of such foods.<br /><br />Myself, I was diagnosed as a mild asthmatic about 10 years ago. Within the last few years I've substantially increased my fruit/vegetalbe intake and added flax and hemp to my diet, with the net result being that I'm now virtually free of the wheezing I once incurred in hot, humid days, strenuous work-outs, poor air quality days, etc.

[[old] bw1099]

I too have mild asthma. Nobody figured it out until I was about 40. It explains why I always got winded so fast while playing sports as a kid. I recently moved to a new city and some of the medical professionals I've encountered here are doubtful that I really have asthma, which is somewhat frustrating.<br /><br />I have found that using an inhaler before erging makes a noticable improvement in my times.<br /><br />One thing that I do that I think helps is to focus on exhaling rather than inhaling. Breathe by pushing the air out of the lungs and let them fill by themselves. It keeps me from breathing wildely out of control and triggering an asthma attack. I think it is a Pilates concept.<br /><br /> ( <-- the asthamtic, gasping for air smiley)<br /><br />bw

[[old] John Rupp]

I had asthma from age 3 to 5, and got rid of it on my own by practicing blowing all the air out of my lungs, holding it there while still trying to breath out more, then breathing normally.<br /><br />My feeling was that compressing the tubules in my lungs as much as possible would allow them more room to open back up when breathing normally, and it worked.<br /><br />Later on in grade and high school I practiced holding my breath a lot, usually in study hall. I could usually get up to 50 or 60 seconds. Later I got up to 1:43 floating on the bottom of a swimming pool, and 1:45 trying this recently. I have been rather inconsistent with it though and think a regular schedule of these things would be quite helpful to me.<br /><br />A few years ago I found some Buteyko links where a similar method is employed to get rid of asthma. To find these, look up "buteyko" and "breathing" on google. Other helpful links are to look up "diving" and "breathing".

[[old] lowwall]

I had severe allergy triggered asthma as a child which, thankfully, has mostly disappeared with age. The only times I experience it now is if I do overstressful exercise during peak allergy seasons (a few weeks in spring and fall here in Chicago).<br /><br />Since your asthma appears to have the same triggers, perhaps you can avoid problems the same way I do. First, make sure the allergies are controlled. Loratadine (Claritin in the USA) works well for minor symptons, is available over the counter and has no noticeable side effects in most people. If this is insufficient, talk to your doctor. I take flonase (fluticasone propionate) during peak pollen seasons and loratadine as needed the rest of the year.<br /><br />Second, I've found that I can avoid problems when exercising by simply making sure I have an adequate warmup. For me at least, it seems that it is the stress of immediately going to full power that causes the asthmatic response. So I'll do a 15-20 minute warmup before attempting any PB of less than an hour's duration. I even warmup a few minutes before a marathon try. <br /><br />The warmup doesn't have to be superslow, just a comfortable aerobic pace.<br /><br />Finally, low humidity can also be a factor in triggering an asthamtic response. If you are rowing at home, a *** DELETE - SPAM *** can help, especially during the winter.<br /><br />Alex

[[old] John Rupp]

By the way, I never used any drugs to get rid of the asthma, and it has never bothered me since age 5.<br /><br />Drugs are certainly NOT a cure for asthma, but merely a pallative to mask symptoms.<br /><br />Any doctor saying you "need" to have drugs is lying to you, and harming you while padding their pockets with "YOUR" money.<br /><br />Asthma is not a drug problem -- it's an issue with breathing.

[[old] Porkchop]

<!--QuoteBegin-John Rupp+Oct 4 2005, 03:04 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(John Rupp @ Oct 4 2005, 03:04 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->By the way, I never used any drugs to get rid of the asthma, and it has never bothered me since age 5.<br /><br />Drugs are certainly NOT a cure for asthma, but merely a pallative to mask symptoms.<br /><br />Any doctor saying you "need" to have drugs is lying to you, and harming you while padding their pockets with "YOUR" money.<br /><br />Asthma is not a drug problem -- it's an issue with breathing. <br /> </td></tr></table><br />John Rupp, MD, graduated <i>summa cum laude</i> from the Tom Cruise School of Medicine, interned at the Delusional Memorial Hospital, and did a residency in pulmonology in his garage. <br /><br />In point of fact, John, you are dispensing dangerous "advice" and newcomers to this forum might actually be tempted to follow it. Stop trying to play doctor. You have no qualifications to dispense this kind of advice. There are many types of asthma. What "worked" for you 50+ years ago may not be the right "treatment" for someone else. The answer in all cases, is "Go see your doctor. Asthma can be a serious, even life-threatening problem. Don't rely on internet forums for information."