Riding while being a sufferer of asthma

[Mo]

Well after about 5 weeks of almost not being able to ride and suffering from various forms of allergies.
today my doctor tells me that i am now an asthmatic at the ripe old age of 26
.
he has advised me not to do any form of exercise.
and asthma isn't curable.

if there are any riders with asthma can you please share how you deal with your daily routine and most importantly how do you manage to go for a ride.

[Rik]

My asthma worsens with inactivity, mind you it's only mild. Using a preventer regularly helps a lot but I've found if I increase my riding I need the preventer less and less.
Here I was thinking regular cardiovascular workout is the best thing for asthmatics - hence why swimming is the asthmatics sport :confused:

[derelikt]

Just carry an inhaler with you, If you feel a bit weazy just have 2 puffs and wait a couple of mins and you'll be right. I used to be really bad with asthma, But i seem to have grown out of it.

[Az]

I agree with the above couple of posts.

Suprising that you are told to do no exercise, I would get a second opinion.

My asthma gets worse with inactivity too, and a couple of puffs on the inhaler b4 I head always helps - sometimes the cold air set me off.

[Ham]

i dont have asthma however a couple of my friends do they normally carry there inhaler with them and its worse on cold days, Allessandro pettachi is an asthma sufferer as well and he seems to be able to cope with physical activity.

[norco01]

Just carry an inhaler with you, If you feel a bit weazy just have 2 puffs and wait a couple of mins and you'll be right. I used to be really bad with asthma, But i seem to have grown out of it.

yeah, now you just have the awful durry cough.

[Superman]

Stuff the doctor you might have asthma but dont let it hold you back. Whats the point of taking the asthma medication if you still cant enjoy excersise. Exercise is so important to mental health because it releases endorphins (happy neurotransmitters). I have asthma and find that you just have to make sure you consistently take the preventative because if you arent consistent with that then dont bother. If you are having any trouble breathing take your reliever (Bricanyl) ASAP so you can get back in the action. Around winter time where the air is a bit cooler I find it alot harder to breathe when im active, so about 5 or 10 minutes before the activity (riding/running/etc) I have a puff of the reliever (be aware that Bricanyl is considered a performance enhancer in drug tests though). It makes it so you can breathe normally for the ride. Side effects of the Bricanyl for me are that it makes me shake, so dont be too worried if it is happening to you.

Did they explain to you what asthma actually is? The docs never told me for about 5 years! It is like there is a tube inside your windpipe and it can swell up/shrunk upon, restricting airflow. Thats why you have to have the reliever quickly!

Good luck with it!

Sam

[Customjimmy]

The 'no exercise' thing is bullshit, look at Susie Maroney.. or Rodney Hogg! I have been a chronic asthmatic since I was very young and have been on every medication out over the last 30 years. What I found most effective was the 'Buteyko' breathing technique which saw me go from daily use of 1 or 2 puffers to none at all a few years ago. I'm not at home so I can't dig out any references for you at the moment. My management plan includes the use of Symbicort inhaler when I get symptoms, usually in Spring/summer. I have read solid research stating that the overuse of Ventolin causes as many problems as it solves and swear by Buteyko. Everyone is different though and should have a plan sorted out with their (in your case DIFFERENT!) doctor. Asthma still kills 800 people a year in Australia.

[Viv92]

Damn, that really sucks.

Luckily, I think there is hope. I used to have asthma really badly and it affected my sporting ability greatly. My mum found out about a new breathing method from my doctor called the buteyko (pronounced byu-tay-ko) method, the same one as Customjimmy did. Hospitals around Brisbane did courses for people wanting to learn it. We couldn't find anything open so we found a guy who knew it very well and taught it (his name was George something or rather...) and he taught me how to do it.

It basically involves learning how to slow your breathing down and to only breath through your nose in order to allow you to keep your airways open. I've noticed it's also similar in meditation in its ability to keep you calmer. Anyway I used to he Ventolin daily (around 5 years ago) and with buteyko I no longer consider my self as asthmatic. I used to occasionally get bits of asthma but I could quickly stop it by using a very concentrated version of the buteyko method. Also I can hold my breath for about 2 minutes without feeling any discomfort now.

It does cost a lot (about $350 for me to do a few lessons) but it's well worth it. You have to commit hard, and sleep with tape over your mouth, but it was totally worth it. :p

I thoroughly recommend it and know 3 other people who have been fixed by it.

EDIT: Some scientific explanations of how it works

Carbon dioxide is a smooth muscle dilator, and the amount of it in the air isn't enough to properly relax the muscles constricting the amount of air going through your wind pipe. Anyway when you don't breath more carbon dioxide is produced and you're muscles are relaxed. So basically you breath in, breath out, then try to hold your breath as long as you can. Then you breath very small breaths, so you can hardly feel the air coming out of your nose (BTW breathing only through the nose is VERY important). This makes the airways open up so you can breath normally again. Once you get good enough it becomes second nature and you don't even think about it. Ventolin actually accentuates the problem as it opens up your airways very wide causing you to breath more, meaning your muscles will constrict again after some time.

Anyway, good luck.

[stringbean]

swimming also helps breathing, so maby try go to the pool a few times a week before or after work, it helps to improve your lung strength (i think).

[ac_DHer]

Yea i suffer from sport/physical asthma. Ive had it since birth and it does effect my riding from time to time aswell as other sports i do. What i do is when i know im going to do a sport etc i have 2 puffs before and that seems to prevent it during sport. Also another thing you could ask your dr about is a tablet form preventive, my dr had me on it for a while it does stop the asthma/aglies(sp) and all that type of stuff but as i seem to get more fit i depend on the puffer less so im slowly reducing the intensity of my asthma which is good i guess. Hope it helps and dont let it hold you back from anything:)

[Mo]

lots of people with experience
well right now, im on some sort of steroids till saturday, its basically to reduce the inflammation and clearing of the nose. so far it's worked pretty ok.

and i have an accuhaler, which isn't a puffer, but more of a dry inhaler, hard to explain as i dont really know how it works. twice a day for that one.

im sure as hell not sitting at home and picking knitting and quilting for a hobby or a sport. but im guessing Doc said no exercise for the time being.

im going to give the buteyko thing a go, sounds good as i've been finding ways on how to breathe less painfully.

[ozelise]

See an asthma specialist. I can't think of any of my asthmatics who I've advised not to exercise once their acute exacerbation is over. It's also unusual to develop true asthma in your mid 20s, but it can happen. More likely is that you have developed post infectious airways hyperresponsiveness. To control asthma, use enough preventers (singulair/seretide/symbicort) so that you don't rely on relievers (ventolin/bricanyl). See an asthma specialist, get some lung function done and get an asthma management plan - which exercise should be a part of when you're stable.

[Viv92]

swimming also helps breathing, so maby try go to the pool a few times a week before or after work, it helps to improve your lung strength (i think).

I know it sounds weird, but swimming sort of puts the buteyko thing into practice. You can't breath when you are under water, so you breath less than you normally would. Swimming actually fixed my dads asthma completely, but he did swim for 5 hours every day.

[...jim]

I suffered from asthma from a very young age, before Ventloin and the like were available, and it sucked. Then the drugs came along - and it got better - then the bike riding came along and it went away.

My asthma is allergy related. Dust mites, cat/dog hair - that sort of thing. There are also some pollens that set me off - something on the NSW south coast in autumn (when I was young) and something in Sydney in summer. In fact the worst situation I found myself in was living in Manly around 1997. Ventolin wouldn't work, I ended up on steroids and could hardly ride.

That's one of the reasons I live in Canberra. Here (living an active lifestyle in a house with little carpet, no pets, etc) I don't get asthma.

What you have to do is find what works for you. I KNOW that if I'm not riding regularly (as little as once a week) my asthma will gradually return. Just like I know when I spend time visiting people with pet cats (or pet dust mites) I'll go off.

I rarely have issues when I'm riding, but I carry an inhaler.

Upchuck, it's kinda different for everyone. Get a second opinion then make sure you manage your asthma - don't let it manage you.

[stringbean]

I know it sounds weird, but swimming sort of puts the buteyko thing into practice. You can't breath when you are under water, so you breath less than you normally would. Swimming actually fixed my dads asthma completely, but he did swim for 5 hours every day.

I had astma when i was a youngin, but mum got me into swimming early because the doctor suggested it. now i only have to use the puffer in winter when its realy cold. but i havnt had any serious astma for about 5 years now.

[bloodzy]

I've had asthma since birth, use to get it alot, hard to breathe etc, just used my releavers/preventer to stop it, used ot hold me back in situations but it was managable. Up until about a month ago I had never had an "asthma attack" were i stoped breathing and passed out for 5mins, my girlfrien said my lips even turned blue! im 22 so i was happy with not having one before then, bit disapointed to have broken the "i havent had one yet".

anyway, since I started DH riding 2 years ago, riding fairly constantly / pushing up mtn tracks my asthma has improved 10 fold, Now i barely use my releaver except for really heavy rides, now i have gone from 2 puffs of preventer and releaver day and night to 1 puff preventer day and night, because im active.

You should get a 2nd opinion on that doctor though, staying still would only make you feel shit and not strenghten your lungs any to reduce the affects of it.

[slip]

lots of people with experience
well right now, im on some sort of steroids till saturday, its basically to reduce the inflammation and clearing of the nose. so far it's worked pretty ok.

What did you get prescribed?

[soil sampler]

Hey man. The doctor that told you that you shouldnt exersise is full of crap. Ive had asthma for about 10 years (i am only 18) and im out riding almost everyday. The thing that really helped me is a medication called flixotide. Its an orange puffer (instead of the blue one) and it prevents attacks if you take it twice a day. Your doctor should presribe one too you and it will make a huge difference.

[Derek Yates]

Hey,

I've had it for years now in a minor and irritating way. I've been a rider since I was about 5 and have DEFINATELY found that inactivity is way worse from it than activity. I rarely get it from riding but somtimes when I have a cold or it's really cold outside I get a bit wheezy. Mostly find I react to dust/pollen and notice it mostly at night.

I have been to a number of different doctors (all GP's) that have given me next to useless advice (one even told me the same as you don't exercise and it's not fixable). Find a GOOD doctor and particularly an Asthma/allergy specialist. If the doctor you see first, second or third sucks go to someone else. It's your lungs!

Once you have good advice and can treat it when it's a problem you should be able to lead a fully normal life. I had it way worse in my early teens and these days I seem to only have issues from time to time. I have an inhailer in my Camelback 'just in case' that I use maybe a couple of times a year.

Best of luck with it dude. It's kinda heavy when you get all the medical mumbo jumbo but it's clear there is no right and wrong answers with this one and you need to manage it based on what you know about how it affects you. Just be aware that it can be a serious thing and if you don't know anything abou it you probably need to find out.

Cheers,

Derek

[Geordsta]

Hey, Ive suffered from Asthma since i was 6 or 7 and It's mainly allergy related however if it is cold I take roughly 5 or 6 puffs before I do a ride and try to keep a puffer with me at all times.
And it sucks that you are on steroids I hate them. I think they might be called Predniscolone (sp?) thats the ones I get put on almost everytime i have a severe attack.

[Mo]

What did you get prescribed?

prednisolene tabs - steroids. 25mg

seretide Accuhaler 250mcg

bloody hell i think im going to get another view on this issue, this doctor hasn't inspired much in the past as well.

but i sure feel tons better today, except for the roids holding fluids and making piss stink and disgusting.

[Northern Hemi]

A recent university study here in Canada has shown that asthma sufferers benefit greatly from aerobic exercise, so long as their asthma is under control.
Doctors telling you to lay off the exercise are out of touch, unless there is something specific about your case that makes a difference.
Get a second opinion.

[deaks]

when i ride i always have my in-hailer (sp?) on me.

i have a puff when i start and i have a few depending on how im feeling after.

[slip]

bloody hell i think im going to get another view on this issue, this doctor hasn't inspired much in the past as well.


Ah....yeah. Unless there is something specifically causing you to be at risk of an attack with increased demand on breathing in the short term which may explain his recommendation. My clients always come good with asthma when doing heavy cardio, the more they do, the better it gets.

That steroid is a corticosteroid - not something you want to use for any period of time, unless absolutely 100% necessary. In simple terms, it will do the general opposite of anabolic steroid - the kind that makes you big and strong. Not good things.

[Mo]

today is my last day on those things.
i really didn't want to take em, but i sorta had no choice.

im going to see him again today just to get his expert view on the situation and probably go to another doctor by next week.

the coughing and wheezing pretty much stopped, but i still need to remember not to breathe heavily.

everytime i exercise or open up the lungs i feel tons better. its like there isn't a restriction in breathing.

thanks for all the good advice.