About those lungs

[Kathi]

I have EIA as well as asthma triggered by things car exhausts, cold air, smoke, etc. For the EIA I was using a Maxair rescue inhaler before exercising but I still struggled on short climbs. I thought I wasn't strong enough to climb the hills but no matter how much I climbed I didn't get any better so I thought I was "normal".

All spring and summer I seemed to have trouble breathng, I was riding slower and if my heart rate got higher than 150 I was short of breath. I knew something was wrong but thought I had lost my aerobic conditioning because I skied all winter instead of spending some on my bike.

I recently went on Advair full time. What a world of difference! I can clilmb and really inhale the air into my lungs. No more huffing and puffing. My heart rate averages are up, my speed is up, I can't believe that what I had accepted as "normal" for many years wasn't normal at all.

When I climb I now pay attention to my breathing and am learning what it is like to "inhale" fully with deep breaths.

BTW, my Dr. told me there are tests that can be done to determine EIA.