Exercise Induced Asthma & Allergies

[Cycling Sister]

I take Sudafed Sinus and advil before every ride. Exactly what I'm allergic to? I'm not sure as I've never been tested. As soon as I smell freshly cut grass, my head congests immediately. My favorite smell is burnt-looking, dead grass. ;)

I've also been working on increasing my aerobic capacity for longer, gradual hill climbs. Everyone tells me that I look athletic, so hills should get easier. They haven't. It's been 7 weeks of riding (75-100 miles a week) with lots of climbing!

Last Friday, my friend (a nurse) and I were riding. During a hill climb, he suggested I pull over and rest after hearing my breathing. I don't wheeze, but I cough. He thought I might need an inhaler. When I climb, I can't fill my lower lungs with enough air before my chest tightens up and burns.

So, I saw a doctor this week about it. I felt silly thinking that being out of breath is normal for a new cyclist. But, I also don't want to die on the side of the road if I can prevent it. She tested my exhalation and oxygen levels. Everything looked great, blood pressure 90/60. She said that this summer has been the worst for pollens, humidity, heat and pollution. Combined with the fact that I'm still developing my aerobic capacity, she prescribed an inhaler to use to get me over the hump.

I am to take 2 puffs. After a month, she suggested that I take one puff. If I need another puff, I should take it. But, the plan is that by October, the time the weather is cooler, pollen counts go down and the air is crisp, I will no longer need to use the inhaler.

Does this sound right? My son has asthma (coughing, vomiting from coughing). I was under the impression that people don't outgrow asthma. For those who have exercise induced asthma, what has your experience been?

Oh! I went on my first ride today at noon after using the inhaler. My allergies are acting out today. Would have needed a Sudafed sinus regardless if I was riding or not. The heat was intense and humidity was 80%. It was a totally different experience!!! I was out of breath for some hills, but I could BREATH! No more tightening and fear of being able to get enough oxygen. I could actually feel my thighs burn before my lungs gave out. It was actually an enjoyable ride!

[Catrin]

First of all I hope you get to feeling better soon, asthma isn't fun.

Second - it is my experience that asthma comes and goes. My asthma has been very bad at certain times in my life, but as I focused on increasing my fitness and just being outdoors a lot more, my asthma has basically disappeared. I still have an inhaler with me, and really cold air is still a trigger, but most of my triggers have disappeared and I can't remember hte last time I had to use my inhaler.

Bottom line, for some people asthma does "go away", for others it doesn't. Congratulations on having a better ride with the inhaler :)

[Bethany1]

Yeah, an inhaler helps me a lot. This summer has been terrible for allergies and breathing despite everything being dead in my neck of the woods. My eyes itch and burn, my sinuses hurt and I hate the coughing at night.

I also realized that I needed to strengthen my diaphragm for better air. That's made a huge difference in being able to exhale better and more efficiently. I only use the inhaler for bike rides. This summer has been much easier because of the inhaler. Hills are still a pain, but I'm not dying on the side of the road as much or for as long.

[OakLeaf]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought allergic asthma and exercise-induced asthma are two different things?

I have allergic asthma, and exercise actually makes it better, since it suppresses my immune system enough to tamp the allergies down a bit. But I'm sure it's possible to have both kinds.

I would definitely suggest that you do see an allergist, since immunotherapy can actually treat the allergies, rather than just the symptoms.

[ny biker]

When I climb, I can't fill my lower lungs with enough air before my chest tightens up and burns.

I was out of breath for some hills, but I could BREATH! No more tightening and fear of being able to get enough oxygen.

Yeah, this is asthma.

The biggest trigger for me is riding up steep hills. But I do see variations in symptoms due to weather (cold air) and pollen. Last winter and spring I had problems 24x7 due to concrete dust in the air at work, while they were renovating the parking lot and garage. I'm still not fully recovered from it.

[Cycling Sister]

Catrin, Good to know that increased fitness can help asthma. My son says that working out helps clear his lungs. He wouldn't take an inhaler or go to the doctor when he was in the Army. I forget the exact reason. But, being sick was something frowned upon in his unit. Now that he's no longer in the military, I've been trying to get him to consider going to a doctor to have a back up inhaler just in case. He still coughs but not to the extent he did when he was younger.

Bethany1, What diagram exercises do you do? I am a stomach breather... I naturally breath into my lower lungs focusing on my stomach area expanding before I fill up my upper chest area. I started breathing this way several years ago when I became a massage therapist.

Oakleaf, I'm not sure. I've never had a problem with tightness/burning unless I was sick. I cough up mucus when my allergies get bad though. Cycling is the only exercise I do outdoors. I did a full rotation of P90X a couple years ago and didn't have a problem with chest tightness. I could be wrong, but I think exercise induced asthma can be brought on by allergies. I would have to ask the doctor about it.

Thank you for the suggestion to see an allergist. I notice that my skin doesn't break out in hives or itch if I'm regularly doing any kind of exercise that makes me sweat. This past winter I was so busy with work I didn't exercise regularly. Then I got a rash that covered my body and was in bed for a week. Slept most of that week. Could barely open my eyes I was so tired. I honestly think it was allergy related. My doctor gave me medicine that helped and recommended I see a dermatologist first. But, I couldn't get an appointment to see a dermatologist for 2 months! By the time I found a dermatologist, my rash and symptoms were gone and there wasn't anything he could do. Very frustrating. I'll have to ask around for a good allergist in my area.

[Cycling Sister]

Yeah, this is asthma.

The biggest trigger for me is riding up steep hills. But I do see variations in symptoms due to weather (cold air) and pollen. Last winter and spring I had problems 24x7 due to concrete dust in the air at work, while they were renovating the parking lot and garage. I'm still not fully recovered from it.

Thank you for sharing. Some people that I know make me feel like I just need to toughen up and climb more hills. But, they don't understand what it's like to not be able to breath and the fear and internal panic I get when it happens. I hope you fully recover soon!!

[bmccasland]

Thank you for sharing. Some people that I know make me feel like I just need to toughen up and climb more hills. But, they don't understand what it's like to not be able to breath and the fear and internal panic I get when it happens. I hope you fully recover soon!!

Welcome to the EIA club. I managed to "train" the folks I rode with when I lived in another city and was riding regularily. They got to know the sound of my breathing, or not, and when I was in trouble. They likened my breathing to a freight train. There will be better days and worse days, relative temperature and humidity will make a difference. Hot muggy days when the air feels "heavy" equals a rough day for me. I admit to being a cold weather weenie, so can't really tell you how I breath when it's cooler than 55F.

[Crankin]

My asthma has also come and gone. It's allergy induced, and I also can't remember the last time I took my inhaler. However, when I started riding, I would take it before a ride, if it was very hot and humid. I have built up my tolerance for that, a great deal. If I am already having a bad time with allergies, or I am sick, I rest instead of riding, or I take a walk. I have learned the hard way when not to work through feeling sick, as in avoiding bronchitis or pneumonia.
Take your inhaler. I would hate to not be able to breathe while climbing.

[zoom-zoom]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought allergic asthma and exercise-induced asthma are two different things?

I have allergic asthma, and exercise actually makes it better, since it suppresses my immune system enough to tamp the allergies down a bit. But I'm sure it's possible to have both kinds.

I would definitely suggest that you do see an allergist, since immunotherapy can actually treat the allergies, rather than just the symptoms.

Yup. I have both...and I think this Fall I am finally going to look into immunotherapy/shots. I am almost 40 and have been battling this crap for way too long. I'm tired of taking Zyrtec 365 days/year and inhaled steroids.

[Catrin]

Catrin, Good to know that increased fitness can help asthma...

For me it made a world of difference, but our bodies are all different and there are different triggers for asthma. I think that most of my triggers were environmental - and as my fitness increased and was therefore exposed more and more to the triggers, my immune system became better able to deal with them. That is the only reason I can account for most of my allergies having disappeared - and I've been tested. Sadly, I am still very allergic to cats - that is the one that remains :(

Also, for me, I had so many side-effects to all of the usual asthma medications outside of the rescue inhaler that, in effect, the assorted inhaled and oral medications actually made my asthma MUCH worse. As it turns out my asthma is actually quite minor but my system is highly sensitive to those side-effects.I do try to keep my inhaler with me in high heat and humidity - though it is rarely a problem. Cold air is still a large trigger for me however, and I won't ride outside much under 37 degrees for that reason.

Hopefully you can get your son to the doctor - if he is still coughing then it isn't under control. While I do wheeze and so forth when it acts up, my asthma is generally what they call "cough-variant asthma" so I know what it feels like.

[zoom-zoom]

Also, for me, I had so many side-effects to all of the usual asthma medications outside of the rescue inhaler that, in effect, the assorted inhaled and oral medications actually made my asthma MUCH worse. As it turns out my asthma is actually quite minor but my system is highly sensitive to those side-effects.

Advair made me totally sick for the year-and-a-half that I was on it. It beat my immune system to hell and gave me countless thrush infections on the back of my throat. I've had MUCH better luck with Qvar and a spacer.

[Catrin]

Advair made me totally sick for the year-and-a-half that I was on it. It beat my immune system to hell and gave me countless thrush infections on the back of my throat. I've had MUCH better luck with Qvar and a spacer.

I never had thrush infections, I just sounded like I had emphysema and that I should have been on O2 :eek: They tried many different medications, but my body didn't like any of them - Qvar probably wasn't around then.

I currently take no medications outside of my rescue inhaler on the rare times it is needed - the last problem I've had in the last few years was this last winter when I tried to ride on a windy cold day :o I know this may not always be the case however. The one certain thing in life is things change...

[Kathi]

I have non allergic rhinutis, which means I'm not allergic to proteins (pollens, cats, etc) but react to things in the environment, air pollution, extremes in temps, humidity, perfumes etc. My type of asthma goes along with this so I often don't know what will set me off. I also have exercise induced asthma. All my life whenever I exerted myself I'd end up gasping for air. Thinking I was undertrained I worked harder but didn't get better.

It wasn't until I moved to Colorado and have a asthma and allergy doc that has educated me about asthma do I feel I'm in control.

For me, exercise does not improve my symptoms, especially EIA. Advair helps to keep me under control. I can get by with the 150/50 dose in the winter but have to increase to 250/50 in summer. My lung function has improved dramatically since I've been on Advair. No other health issues with it.

I'm constantly learning about the "ins and outs" of asthma and how to keep it under control.

You sound alot like me when I had to be the "1st up the hill". I can now climb without the gasping for air but I now relax, take my time and breath easily when I climb.

[Cycling Sister]

Since last Thursday, I've ridden 4 times using the inhaler before the rides. The difference in my breathing has been amazing... not so much in my hill climbing abilities. lol My ribs and sternum have gotten sore from being able to breath deeply.

I'm so in awe with how you all manage your health, respect your bodies, and ride. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences!

bmccasland, What a special group of riders you had! I'm hoping to ride over the winter if my lungs can take it. Started buying cold weather gear.

Crackin, You bring up a good point about listening to your body and resting.

Catrin, Yeah, I don't think my son's asthma is fully under control either. It's more like he thinks it is because he hasn't gotten sick and had a full blown attack yet. I hear you about our bodies changing. The older I've gotten, the more sensitive I am detergents, soaps, perfumes, etc.

zoom-zoom, I am going to find an allergist. Immunotherapy sounds better than taking Sudafed sinus and Advil almost every day.

Kathi, I half jokingly say that I'm glad I don't live in Colorado! Glad you were able to find a good allergy-allergist doctor and can manage you EIA!

[beccaB]

I was going to search for a thread on this very subject. After a really long ride my lungs burn real bad. They might have always done that, but for some reason I'm just now noticing how after a ride, the feeling continues on for a while. When I was in Colorado in June I rode a lot, and that was hard for me because I am not acclimatized to altitude. However, there was no burning lungs there. just here, in South Central Michigan. What gives?

[indigoiis]

I was having this problem this Spring, and my doc, who tends to loathe prescription anything, asked me to track my diet for a month before she had me have an allergy test. I did, and tracked symptoms, and lo and behold, they were related. Certain foods really triggered bad breathing on long rides.

So she suggested I cut those foods for a month, which I did, and lo and behold, the asthma disappeared.

I also lost ten lbs. in the process and that probably helped my climbing.

Everyone's different but.. I'm glad she didn't just give me an inhaler script and call it a day.

[Cycling Sister]

beccaB, Check with your doctor. I hope you find answers! Not being able to breath is no fun.

indigoiis, That's interesting. So, your triggers was food allergies? What foods did you eliminate?

[beccaB]

Yeah, me too.. I'm curious about which foods you eliminated. I have a feeling dairy and wheat may be some of them. I had an anaphalaxis (sp) episode as a child, and I get winter hives. I have fantastic lungs otherwise, I play a wind instrument. This might be a game changer for me, so I need to get serious about it, and I don't like to take meds either.

[indigoiis]

I stopped eating cereal with milk before rides, and then I cut it out altogether. Starting having dry whole wheat toast, black coffee and grapefruit, maybe an egg, in the a.m. Much better.

But at first I cut out most processed wheat products (my husband was still making baked bread, so I figured since it was homemade I could toast it and eat that, and it didn't seem to affect me.) Cut out all pasta. All white flour products. All desserts for a month. All scones, muffins, danishes, whatever. I cut out all dairy for a month. Didn't even eat yogurt. I basically ate only fruits, veggies, meat, some beans (but not like I ate beans before) and the homemade bread, toasted. Bazinga.

Since clearing up I slowly reintroduced a couple of things like hard cheese and have stayed clear. I did have a bowl of cheerios with milk and immediately felt stomach cramping, congestion, and tiredness. So, I think it's a combination of cow's milk and processed wheat foods.

[beccaB]

I think I'm going to make more of an effort to eliminate all white flour and change what I eat for breakfast. I can probably reduce or nearly eliminate most of the sugary junk food from my diet. Giving up my frosted mini wheats with milk for breakfast is going to be a challenge, but it's worth it if it gets rid of my breathing problem. It could be that there are so many environmental allergens that even making a small dietary change will have a favorable outcome.

[Cycling Sister]

I can see how food allergies can trigger EIA. I don't think my triggers are food related. I don't eat dairy and hardly much processed foods. Stopped eating dairy years ago. My body reacts best to whole wheat breads or rice grain breads. Glad you were able to find out what triggered your EIA!

[indigoiis]

Becca I hear ya. Cheerios for me was the manna of life. I swear, I thought I would die when I looked at that icky grapefruit and toast the first morning. But now I am used to it. I change it up with plain oatmeal (and I do the steel cut so it does take awhile - you have to plan for it) with fresh fruit (cut up while I wait for the freaking oats to do their thing). I think I would rather eat cheerios with milk than any dessert anytime. Oh well. That's one thing that got the 86 and I would guess it is going to be for good.

I think milk was likely the biggest part of it. I did get tested for everything - thyroid, lung x-ray, vitamin deficiencies (I was deficient in D, believe it or not, with all the cheerios and milk I was eating), gluten intolerance (neg), and I was told I was healthy. Like, maybe this was in my head. The last test she held out on was the breathing test they give you in the hospital. She said it was unpleasant and I could cancel it if my breathing got better after cutting out the trigger foods.

So I cancelled it.
So I guess I'll never know for sure whether it was in my head, food induced, or real-live honest-to-god asthma. I don't have an inhaler and so I am not sure what I'll do if I have another scary breathing episode on the bike. I guess I'll just wait and see. It's been a couple of months now.

[ny biker]

What is the unpleasant breathing test?

[Catrin]

What is the unpleasant breathing test?

Her doctor may have another test in mind, but the most unpleasant one they ever gave me was meant to induce a mild asthma attack. If they can then it proves the asthma is there and isn't something else. Not fun.

[indigoiis]

That's the one! Blech!