Exercised Induced Asthma

[ny biker]

For me, the initial diagnosis was based on:

- family history of asthma (lots of it)
- description of symptoms -- I had had a couple of full-on attacks with bad wheezing and inability to breathe
- testing my lung capacity by breathing into a thing whose name I can't remember right now. Basically a plastic cylinder with a thing that moves up when you breathe really hard into it, and how far the thing moves determines normal lung function vs compromised lung function.

If you tell your GP that you are wheezing and unable to breathe in, and he just assumes it's because you're unfit, find another doctor. Being unfit means you have to take lots of deep breaths when you exert yourself. Having asthma means you're unable to take those deep breaths.

And if you're doing 50-mile rides at 14-15 mph, I would say you are actually quite fit in some ways even with any health problems caused by excess weight. I weigh about 142 right now and that's my average speed for a 50-mile ride.

[Mel.b]

Thanks. I'll be booking an appt with my GP.

Just realised i got the conversion wrong with my speed...it's more like 12-13miles per hour for 50miles (but whats a couple of miles)

[iabarbosa]

I was diagnosed in my early 20s. Once I matured, I have it under control. I am currently off all asthma meds. However, When needed I go back to Symbicort. I have noticed that unless I am really feeling tight in my chest, not using inhalers is better. They increase my heart rate too much.
But as I learned practising yoga....you must listen to your body. Some days you are great, some days you need inhalers and thus pace yourself so your heart rate is comfortable. A good heart heart monitor is awesome. I have a garmin edge and it helps me on my cadence and heart rate...and when to work it or to take it easy.
Do not let asthma sideline you!

[Mel.b]

So i went to the doctors today and he has made a presumptive diagnosis of asthma and i have been given both a preventitive inhaler to have every day and also a reliever to take prior to exercise and during if needed.

He did raise the issue of fitness vs asthma, however what i think swung him today about trying me with the inhalers was that my grandfather died of an asthma attack and the fact that i do 95% of my cycing by myself, so better to be safe than sorry.

I also did a spirometry lung functin test which was in the normal range but he wasn't surprised by that.

I go back in 3 months to review how i have gotten on.