Anyone else have exercise-induced asthma?

KatLA

 I've had exercise-induced asthma all my life, relatively mild. The only time it rears its head is on runs, and it's to the point where I'm really not getting any faster due to breathing issues. I take the daily preventative (flovent) and have a rescue inhaler (which I'm not a fan of, as it raises my heart rate). 

I was wondering if anyone else has the same condition and if you've found any ways to help it. I'm getting a wee bit frustrated and am wondering if I should go see a specialist. 

THANKS!

GMAN 19030

I do. I will post my thoughts later.

manninj1

Katie-I had childhood induced asthma and have excercise induced asthma as an adult although it is relatively mild.  I regularly use my rescue inhaler prior to runs and definitely prior to any threshold/VO2max work on the run or bike.  I've never felt that the elevated heart rate was a major issue. . .just new it was going to be that way and didn't pay as much attention to it in my data.  I didn't feel like the elevated heart rate affected my performance.

The dry cold certainly makes this worse and I've often used a balacalava when possible to try to warm the air I was breathing. 

My wife has had much more severe asthma symptoms than I have.  What she discovered was she was also suffering from allergies, particularly to mold and tree pollen.  You may want to get an allergy test to see if there is anything in your environment that's exacerbating your asthma issues.

Joe

kimmydct

Same situation here. I take 2 hits of rescue inhaler about 20 mins prior to all wkos and I'm fine. Sometimes I'll need more on the run if it is humid or I'm having bad allergies. I guess I'm just used to the higher hr. usually it calms down a bit by the time I start the wko so it isn't too problematic. I also take singular for asthma and allergies.

jaleslie

 Katie - I'm not a pulmonologist or allergist, but I am a physician, and had exercise induced asthma as a child.  I've outgrown it, although if I have a URI (cold, flu, etc) or are recovering from one, it rears its ugly head.  I had the flu earlier this week, for example, still had a little lingering cough and "tightness" when I did my long run last night.  What I found, was that as long as I was running swiftly (faster than LR pace or so), I was fine.   However, if I slowed to walk, tie a shoe, wait to cross a street, etc., then I began coughing like crazy.  Once I got running again, it would settle down.  Not sure what to make of that, other than it kept me moving!

As far as seeing a specialist, based on what you've said (longstanding problems, perhaps not controlled well enough), I would agree that seeing a specialist would be a good idea.  Question is whether to see a pulmonologist or an allergist (immunologist).  Asthma for many people (if not most) is allergy related.  Do your symptoms fluctuate seasonally in any way, or is it the same all year long?  If the symptoms are stable all year or are only present when it's cold, I think a pulmonologist would be my first step.  If it's more seasonal and worse when allergens are high/nose is running/sneezing/eyes itching/etc., then I'd see an immunologist.  Perhaps some allergy shots (desensitization) or different antihistamine/leukotriene concoction would help (singulair, inhaled steroids, etc). 

I also agree with the others who have testified to using their rescue inhalers prior to/during exercise.  While it will raise your heartrate a little, that is transient/expected and is what you NEED.  As you've stated, if you can't exchange oxygen and CO2 fast enough, that's a problem.  Children with asthma are instructed to use their rescue inhalers for exercise....don't see why that should be any different for an adult.  

 

Just my 2 cents....

coop6

If you think your asthma is limiting your performance, I would definitely go see a specialist. I ended up seeing a sports medicine guy for exercise testing, and then was referred to a pulmonologist for more evaluation. I started out on Flovent and Albuterol, but like you felt like my speed was limited by my ability to breathe. I felt like I couldn't get enough air to run at paces that were previously not that hard, and Z4 was near impossible. It was sort of a long road, but I eventually ended up on Advair, singulair, fish oil, and Claritin. I rarely need a rescue inhaler, and from what I was told if you require a rescue inhaler for each workout then your asthma is not well controlled.

Some things that are helpful: avoiding temperature extremes when working out. I'm not willing to bike all year indoors even if it's hot, so I'll do a good portion of the running on a treadmill. I end up feeling like my lungs are scorched after really hot or cold running, and if I do everything outside no matter the weather, eventually I feel terrible all the time. I also monitor my peak expiratory flow rate. It's helpful to have an objective number to match to the symptoms.

trisumai

The fact that you use a daily controlling agent, Flovent (inhaled corticosteroid) tells me that you have already been classified in the mild persistent category of asthma rather than simply EIB alone. The question that it raises is whether your control is adequate or whether the classification is actually correct. I would suggest that you undergo pulmonary function tests (can be ordered by your PCP) to clarify how much airflow limitation you have. Also quantify the amount of symptoms (both during the day and at night) and the frequency of use of your rescue inhaler (albuerol).
Beta agonists serve as a mainstay of tx for EIB but also has significant side effects that people do not like ie increased HR. You could try Singulair. It won't raise your HR and it is an acceptable 1st line alternative for EIB. Another one is Cromolyn sodium (Intal) which I have no experience in prescribing but is also a first line for EIB.

zharveymd

 Agree with Kar.  If your requiring a daily preventive medicine then your probably in the category of a persistant asthma and not just an exercise induced.  Good to get the pulmonary function tests  and get a game plan from a physician who can appreciate your goals as an athlete.   I have mild exercise induced asthma but it only shows itself with cough and mild wheeze on deep inspiration when its cold outside.  Its crazy how and when it decides to show up.  I keep my inhaler on me in the winter just in case because there can always be a chance that a "major attack" is around the corner even with people who never had such.