Asthma

[oldexpat]

I have had asthma for around 8 years and its really getting me down. The only thing exercise I can do is swimming really which I have worn out and utterly bored with. I used to swim a mile a day but just gets boring and tedious. I have tried rowing which isnt too bad and dont suffer asthma attacks from but its very rare I can actually do this. All other cardio exercise gives me a asthma attack. This means I am limited to doing weights and swimming.
I like to run, use a punch bag plus many more but I keep getting asthma attacks. I have stopped smoking 3 months now and I am also using a preventer inhaler but I still cant do much exercise. Is there anything I can do at all?

[SMP]

I think you need to see your Gp or asthma nurse as it does not sound as if your condition is well controlled. Your medication may need changing. What is your peak flow?

[oldexpat]

SMP I don't know. I travel around the world so I just buy ventolin and start to use the preventer when starts to get bad which does sometimes depending where I am and the change of climate.

[Sqad]

You can swim 1mile a day.
You row.

That would indicate that you have well controlled asthma. Why not use your Ventolin before you go on your run?

What other exercise had you got in mind?

[tastymorsel]

You need to use your preventer every day as prescribed.It is called a preventor because that is what it does.You can't expect to keep your asthma at bay if you are not using your medication properly.The preventor takes a few days to build up in your system so you need to keep using it in order to keep it there.I was virtually an invalid and was going through two or three Ventolin a week until my doctor put me on Pulmicort which I use once in the morning and once at night.I can't remember the last time I used my Ventolin and have absolutely no problems with my asthma now.I know if i stop using the Pulmicort preventor though I will be in trouble again.

[oldexpat]

I use my preventer before any cardio but still get an attack which is what annoys me. I dont know why I can swim 1 mile with no asthma. I think its to do with all the motion of my body that gives me an attack with running etc. I dont know

[daffy654]

Using the preventer inhaler before exercise is a complete waste of time. You need to use the ventolin before and use the preventer regularly as advised by a doctor.

http://www.lunguk.org...and-diseases/asthma#5

http://www.lunguk.org...s-and-diseases/asthma

[Eve]

I used to suffer badly when I was younger but seem to have grown out of it mostly. Still struggle a bit with a lot of cardio and when I have a bad cold but nowhere near as bad as it was.

I know what you mean, I can swim and row but struggle with other things. Can only do a slow breaststroke though, front crawl just turns me into a wheezing mess (tried to learn it for my bronze medallion lifesaving course but ended up having an asthma attack in the water and my own casualty and the lifeguard had to rescue me, needless to say I failed!).

I used to find classes great. I find I can control my breathing a lot better when I can pace myself in things like dancing and step. On step you can control the level by the height of the step and you can up your level of effort depending on how you feel.

I had one rather memorable boxercise class once where, after the whole mistake of not wearing a sportsbra and nearly knocking myself out, I didn't dare leave the changing rooms for about 15 mins after as i was verging on purple.

You could try other dance classes too. I have been to salsa ones in a local club a few times for a lesson then some freestyle (just get on the dancefloor and make it up) and it is definitely good cardio but, again, you can control your effort level.

[Eve]

Just thought, how about water based activities like water polo and aqua aerobics?

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