Asthma Support Group

Asthma is a disease of the human respiratory system where the airways narrow, often in response to a "trigger" such as exposure to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which respond to bronchodilators.

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dar2044 03/27/2016

Hello. I am new to these boards and new to asthma. I have been diagnosed in May and recently had a methacholine challenge test that indicated I am in the moderate range. Because I am new to all of this, I have a question. I just moved to a new city where they have really great opportunities (compared to what I am used to) to be active such as tons of nature trails, and gym programs like kickboxing (that I love!!) and spinning at the aquatic center! I am on Zenhale (for those who are in Canada) or Dulera in the USA. I also have Ventolin for emergencies. My question is though I take two puffs of Zenhale/Dulera in the morning and two at night, I find that when I exercise and push myself I have an attack. Can a person take the Ventolin BEFORE exercise or going somewhere that is a known trigger to my allergies? Or do you just wait and take the Ventolin only when you are in an attack? Sorry if this is a silly question but I would love to know so I can stop feeling anxiety every time I go to a class at the gym. I really don't want to stop what I love to do, especially now that I live so close to all these fun activities! This summer I want to buy a mountain bike and bike through the trails, and I know that I am allergic (+++++) to all trees, grasses, weeds, you name it. Would love to know how to live with asthma and keep doing these fun activities. :) Thanks for any help you can give me.

sonnycamehome 03/28/2016

Not a stupid question at all!

I per-medicate with my rescue inhaler if I am going to be active or spending time out doors around lots of allergens. My Dr said this is fine for me to do in order to prevent an exercised induced attack, but to be sure you may just want to check in with your Dr about the best ways to manage your active lifestyle and asthma.

Welcome to the group!

dar2044 03/29/2016

Thanks for the replies! I was not sure and didn't want to over medicate or anything. I was all set to buy a mountain bike and go biking in this beautiful nature park near where I live, but I just read a girl was found dead there a few years ago! I don't know anyone here yet and was planning in taking up biking by myself. I don't know anymore if that is a good idea or what...but it is good to know I can take my puffer before I do some activity that will probably bring on some asthma symptoms. Good advice from everyone, I thank you so much!

laurie32 03/30/2016

they do now make portable nebulizer machine that run on battery. they are make them small too. make sure you take your phone with you when you out. rember if you get really out of breath take a break and breath slower. if your inhale do not help then call for help. I know have asthma is not fun. I was born with it. I will always have it. with asthma you got to be careful and do not do too much. you will learn what you can do and what you can not do.

dar2044 04/01/2016

I bought a mountain bike yesterday!!! Thank you for the great advice! I am buying a bag to fit on the frame of the bike to hold my rescue inhaler and phone. The trails near my home are pretty deep in the woods. Hoping by the end of the summer, I will have better lung capacity. Thing is I am highly allergic to all trees, grasses, and weeds. I will see how it goes. If my breathing is not so good, I will bike the trails near the ocean and open urban trails.

sonnycamehome 04/01/2016

Good for you!

Enjoy your new bike :)

medicpeds 04/03/2016

You should take your ventolin 30 min. prior to exercise. 2 puffs. Sometimes I have to do a neb treatment after exercise. I will still exercise though. If I get short of breath while exercising I stop if needed. Sometimes my husband says he can hear me wheezing all the way across the room and he makes me stop. Listen to your body.

Just don't push too hard!!!!

dar2044 04/04/2016

Ok good to know. I will take it 30 minutes before. My last gym class I pushed too hard and thought I was going to be sick and faint at the same time. So I stopped and left. I do the class again tomorrow but I think I will be alright. :)

sneezinggirl 05/24/2016

You can enjoy all you want. do not let the asthma stop you. All the best (y)

laurie32 07/11/2016

Maybe you are doing too much at one time. Maybe you need to take more break and take slow breath. Maybe you need to drink more water and try not too get overheat. Sometime get iverheat can make asthma attack. Try to go outside and execrise when it cool out. If you go out when it hot weather and execrise you will have a asthma attack. Try to execrise in a ac building or in ac in your house. Maybe you need to get one of those portable nebuluzer machine that run on a battery. They are nake them smaller now too. Maybe you execrise too much.

dar2044 08/06/2016

Thanks for the replies! I have been told I am also very anemic so I took the advice and slowed down a lot. Next wek I have to go get iron infused by IV. The suoplements they gave me in pill form didn't help me at all. In fact, whatever they were measuring (think it is hematocrit) dropped wven more instead of getting better! So the biking will wait. Hope everyone is doing well.

laurie32 09/01/2016

Maybe you can have a friends or a family member go with you. Just to make sure you are ok. I can rember this one time i had a big asthma attack and i could not talk. My bf was home and he call for help. I was in the hospital for 4 days. So it alway goid to have a person there.

Handpicked76 10/16/2016

Based on what I read, you may have exercise-induced asthma. All I know is that I took a breathing test which showed that I had a deficiency of nitrous oxide, I believe. Now I take Spiriva which has relieved me of all exercise-induced problems.

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