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Training with asthma
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darkwave
Apr 12, 12 7:13
Post #26 of 43
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Re: Training with asthma [Allie]
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Allie wrote:
Do you take anything other than a rescue inhaler?
Did they ever suggest an antihistamine or Singulair?
My MD offered to put me on a steroidal inhaler if I had to use my rescue inhaler too often (other than when swimming as a preventative), but I would prefer to avoid that if at all possible due to the side effects.
If I can feel the cough starting, I will slow down, but I will use my inhaler if I need it because the inflammation can really do some damage to the lungs and airways if it is not well managed. I do best when I stay on Flonase and Allegra. That seems to cut down on the need for my inhaler since most of my issues are chemical/environmental allergies run amok.
I'm also on anti-histamines (Allegra+quercetin) and Singulair.
A compounding issue I have is that my bronchospasms are triggered by acid reflux, and frequent use inhalers (I use Pro-Air) apparently can contribute to acid reflux in the long run. My GI doctor encouraged me to use the inhaler as little as possible; but he's not a pulmonologist.
Allie
Apr 12, 12 7:26
Post #27 of 43
(647 views)
Re: Training with asthma [darkwave]
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darkwave wrote:
Allie wrote:
Do you take anything other than a rescue inhaler?
Did they ever suggest an antihistamine or Singulair?
My MD offered to put me on a steroidal inhaler if I had to use my rescue inhaler too often (other than when swimming as a preventative), but I would prefer to avoid that if at all possible due to the side effects.
If I can feel the cough starting, I will slow down, but I will use my inhaler if I need it because the inflammation can really do some damage to the lungs and airways if it is not well managed. I do best when I stay on Flonase and Allegra. That seems to cut down on the need for my inhaler since most of my issues are chemical/environmental allergies run amok.
I'm also on anti-histamines (Allegra+quercetin) and Singulair.
A compounding issue I have is that my bronchospasms are triggered by acid reflux, and frequent use inhalers (I use Pro-Air) apparently can contribute to acid reflux in the long run. My GI doctor encouraged me to use the inhaler as little as possible; but he's not a pulmonologist.
That makes sense about what the GI doc says. Smooth muscle has similar receptors so you may well end up dilating out the sphincter muscles of the esophagus. You might ask the GI and pulmonologist about whether or not you need something to deal with the acid reflux and hit the core problem. Lots going on there.
geodee
Apr 12, 12 7:32
Post #28 of 43
(645 views)
Re: Training with asthma [Allie]
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So you're saying it's better to treat it before it happens. If it's dealt with proactively, then maybe it wouldn't spin out of control the way that it does for me. Maybe the reason why the inhaler becomes addictive is just because it was improperly dealt with in the beginning. That sounds like it's worth trying out, especially during times when I know it likely will be be a factor, like the first race of the year.
TriNewfSlaney
Apr 12, 12 7:44
Post #29 of 43
(643 views)
Re: Training with asthma [gildasd]
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I used this method. If you read the book you will understand what a control pause is. In 6 months, mine went from 14 seconds to 58 seconds. 14 indicates chronic and EIA, 45+ indicates no problems whatsoever. I can vouch for this!
BTW, I train 2-3 times daily, 6 days weekly. Yes, you are hyperventilating during exercise (say avg 3.5 hours a day for 6 days/ weeks). Say 21 hours a week, or 12.5% of your week. For the rest of this time, you are SEDENTARY, whether at work, or at home, or eating supper, or doing homework. SO, if you hyperventilate 100% of that time, and you have asthma (which is a genetic predisposition only present in some people), you will have chronic and EIA. If you follow the buteyko (or similar) breathing method, you can reduce your breathing for 87.5% of your time!!! Are you telling me that this doesn't make a difference? Asthmatics are shown to breath 2 -6 x more per minute than a normal, healthy person. This causes the acute, and chronic drop in CO2.
If you don't believe in this, than that's fine. We are all entitled to our own opinion, so I respect that. I am just presenting to the slowtwitch crowd that asthma doens't have to effect you. Medication is not the only answer. Meds are effective in opening the airway but they fail to treat the root cause. You will eventually need higher doses or develop a dependance. I challenge people to buy this book (Asthma-Free Naturally), or check your local library. After reading you will actually understand what asthma is, and your "control pause" will reveal your current state of asthma. Like I said, I started at 14 seconds. At that time, I used to stop in every second swim practice with an asthma attack. Currently, I have not used an inhaler for 19 months (and counting). Don't stop using your meds, but as your conditions becomes better controlled you can decrease your doses. I was a twice a day corticosteroid (tried 3 kinds), and before and during every workout beta-agonist (Bricanyl) kind of asthmatic.
I am open to criticism, but please make a half-educated stab at me. Not just "my doctor once said that, so I figure that...". The truth is, doctors get paid when you come back every 3 months for a refill. Doctors don't get paid if your asthma gets cured and you never see them again. I haven't seen my doctor about asthma in 2 years, her loss not mine! I am not saying doctors are con-ing you into spending your money, but they are ignorant to any treatments that do not involve medicine. Therefore, you are likely to be ignorant to treatments outside of medicine. Break the link man, read on!
Please read the book I suggested before forming an opinion. Cheers.
1drbread
Apr 12, 12 9:48
Post #30 of 43
(631 views)
Re: Training with asthma [TriNewfSlaney]
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Funny you say that about Doctors...my wife is a Pharmacist and after the light reading I did yesterday (along with reading more on the topic), I told her that I wanted to try a different way to control my asthma...her first response was, "There is no DIFFERENT way." Well, even though she takes pretty darn good care of me, I'm going to try a new way...book is already being delivered.
Thank you!
TriNewfSlaney
Apr 12, 12 10:01
Post #31 of 43
(628 views)
Re: Training with asthma [1drbread]
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Oh yes, when I say that doctor's of medicine are ignorant to "alternative treatments" I mean no disrespect. I do not imply that they are not knowledgeable, or that they aren't medical genius, I actually mean they haven't been presented with non-medical material in their studies. In essence, they actually are ignorant to the fact! That is another discussion, but essentially a combination of both sides (medicine and alternative) would be best for any treatment. Unfortunately, in our society you are 100% witch doctor or 100% medicine doctor. There are few in between!
Best of luck.
Allie
Apr 12, 12 10:02
Post #32 of 43
(628 views)
Re: Training with asthma [geodee]
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geodee wrote:
So you're saying it's better to treat it before it happens. If it's dealt with proactively, then maybe it wouldn't spin out of control the way that it does for me. Maybe the reason why the inhaler becomes addictive is just because it was improperly dealt with in the beginning. That sounds like it's worth trying out, especially during times when I know it likely will be be a factor, like the first race of the year.
Those are the indications from my physician for me prior to exercise.
Most MD's will advocate the same course but check with yours before hand. If I premedicate before a run, I cannot handle the HR increase and end up in a mess. I don't notice it with swimming or cycling because my HR is typically lower in those sports than running.
Stress can also precipitate the bronchospasm as well. It may be worth looking at how amped you get prior to that first race. I have OW anxiety regardless of how well I train in it, and I know 100% that if I don't use my ProAir before I hit the lake I will come out coughing and wheezing. I have been there, done that enough to know that I perform better and am more relaxed with the premedication 20 minutes prior to activity in the pool or lakes.
1drbread
Apr 13, 12 7:29
Post #33 of 43
(604 views)
Re: Training with asthma [Allie]
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a little 40 minute video on breathing techniques from down under....
http://www.asthmacrc.org.au/...hing_techniques.html
Robert
Apr 13, 12 8:38
Post #34 of 43
(603 views)
Re: Training with asthma [pk]
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Yep. Chlorine is a disaster. I'd be swimming much faster if I could train in the pool more, but I simply must limit my exposure to chlorine. I do get to swim at the Jersey Shore some, which helps immensely. Swimming in salt water is a real blessing for an asthmatic. And racing in any water that has gasoline, diesel, or any other contaminant can be a disaster too.
-Robert
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~Anne Frank
gildasd
Apr 13, 12 8:41
Post #35 of 43
(602 views)
Re: Training with asthma [Robert]
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Robert wrote:
Yep. Chlorine is a disaster. I'd be swimming much faster if I could train in the pool more, but I simply must limit my exposure to chlorine. I do get to swim at the Jersey Shore some, which helps immensely. Swimming in salt water is a real blessing for an asthmatic. And racing in any water that has gasoline, diesel, or any other contaminant can be a disaster too.
-Robert
A stupid trick I use, is to layer the inside of my nose with vaseline, just a pinky end worth in each nostril... Stops the blocked nose, watering eyes and liquid snot after effects.
http://brokeniron.blogspot.com/
Robert
Apr 13, 12 8:49
Post #36 of 43
(593 views)
Re: Training with asthma [gildasd]
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That helps a small bit for me, but I have a nose the size of Kansas! Also, for long workouts, I must stop about halfway and re-fill my nostrils. Last year I had truly awful moments in the pool. I'm hoping that these pool operators come up with something sane to keep pools safe. Chlorine isn't it, imho.
-Robert
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~Anne Frank
gildasd
Apr 14, 12 7:14
Post #37 of 43
(573 views)
Re: Training with asthma [Robert]
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Robert wrote:
That helps a small bit for me, but I have a nose the size of Kansas! Also, for long workouts, I must stop about halfway and re-fill my nostrils. Last year I had truly awful moments in the pool. I'm hoping that these pool operators come up with something sane to keep pools safe. Chlorine isn't it, imho.
-Robert
My local pools are mostly ozone filtered now, it still sucks the first time when you have not been in a pool for a while, but I acclimatise after 3/4 times.
http://brokeniron.blogspot.com/
(This post was
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by gildasd on Apr 14, 12 15:05)
kathy_caribe
Apr 14, 12 8:31
Post #38 of 43
(568 views)
Re: Training with asthma [TriNewfSlaney]
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thank you for the recommendation. Googling now.
http://harvestmoon6.blogspot.com
Allie
Apr 14, 12 9:38
Post #39 of 43
(565 views)
Re: Training with asthma [1drbread]
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1drbread wrote:
a little 40 minute video on breathing techniques from down under....
http://www.asthmacrc.org.au/...hing_techniques.html
So the research is saying that people still need the inhaled corticosteroids (some at reduced dosages), but can forgo the rescue inhalers in some cases of milder asthma.
Interesting. Thanks for the link. I enjoyed it! It seems to be a well done study according to the video. I will file this one away to use with patients.
It may not be a technique for all asthmatics but for some it may be the key to reducing some inflammation, especially in these kids and athletes we see. The rest of them will just need to stop smoking ;)
synthetic
Apr 14, 12 13:45
Post #40 of 43
(557 views)
Re: Training with asthma [Allie]
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N=1 but heavy weightlifting has helped me nearly eliminate my asthma, as to using techniques of holding air in my stomach and increasing lung capacity. If I take a break from lifting, say 2 weeks, I do notice problems returning.
Insidious
Apr 14, 12 20:21
Post #41 of 43
(540 views)
Re: Training with asthma [triathchris]
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Lifetime as an asthmatic here. My biggest issues are races in the cold, sickness and allergies (seasonal). I guess I am unusual in that exercise reduces my symptoms overall with the exception of really cold races. I just go a notch or two below redline when it's below 20 degrees and all is good. Getting sick in the winter sucks, no way around it as others have said common colds knock me down and give me acute respiratory problems for 2-3 weeks that only seem to go away with nebulized combivent/mdi treatment.
I've contemplated shots and more meds but staying fit/getting thinner again has been the best remedy I can come up with. I think losing another 20 lbs or so and getting a bit more trained should put me in a good place.
I do have one concern, wondering how many others have seen the same thing. I consistently test 94-96% o2 sat vs healthy individuals who are going to be closer to 100. Anyone know what the threshold for hypoxic drive is? Am I hypoxic? Wondering if I am at or near it which from what I undstand is not a great place to be long term.
Crazy Legs
Apr 17, 12 12:12
Post #42 of 43
(499 views)
Re: Training with asthma [Insidious]
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I have had a cough-variant ashtma that I am wondering if anyone else here has dealt with.
I can run nearly any distance I am fit for without symptoms 99% of the time. However, on the bike I am a disaster. I get a horrible cough that cripples me. It starts about 2-3 hours into a ride and stops me in my tracks. I have tried to figure out if it is reflux or EIA or a combination. Tried a methacholine challenge, but it didn't change my airflow. High dose advair and albuterol improved my symptoms, but never eliminated them (I also used protonix). Occasionally, I will get tight after a hard run and it comes on a few minutes after I stop. Cold weather doesn't seem to affect it. Anyone have a similar experience? What solutions did you find? Still wondering if reflux triggers the asthmatic symptoms or worsens them in my case. Frustrating not to figure out exactly how to deal with it.
Robert
Apr 17, 12 12:57
Post #43 of 43
(492 views)
Re: Training with asthma [Crazy Legs]
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I went from 175 cranks to 170 and moved my seat forward a bit. Helped open up my chest. I'd guess NOT EIA because it takes so long, but I'm not a pulmo.
-Robert
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~Anne Frank
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