New to asthma - Asthma Message Board

daystar91 · 07-15-2004, 01:35 PM

Hi,
MY son 5 was just diagnosed with asthma....The doctor said that he had exercise asthma, what is that??I was kind of rushed so i forgot to ask him....Just wondering if there is different types of asthma....

dolphins · 07-16-2004, 03:49 AM

Exercise induced asthma . . . the exercise triggers off the asthma. Be best to double check but I think it's 15mins before exercise is when you should take the ventolin/albuterol (blue puffer/reliever med) - do you have a spacer for your son - good to use - get more medication into the lungs using a spacer, easier to coordinate for children.

ErimusValidus · 07-16-2004, 11:31 AM

Fifteen minutes is the minimum recommended time gap between using the inhaler and commencing exercise. During that fifteen minutes plenty of warming up and stretching should be performed to reduce the risk of breathlessness. Basically your son is lucky to have this type of asthma as opposed to regular asthma because it means he is less at risk of attacks in the night (which are the worst in my opinion).

Blondee15 · 07-16-2004, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhart999

Fifteen minutes is the minimum recommended time gap between using the inhaler and commencing exercise. During that fifteen minutes plenty of warming up and stretching should be performed to reduce the risk of breathlessness. Basically your son is lucky to have this type of asthma as opposed to regular asthma because it means he is less at risk of attacks in the night (which are the worst in my opinion).

Wouldn't jump to that conclusion so fast- ever heard of a delayed reaction? I get those when my EIA is allergy triggered(meaning there is swelling, not just muscles constricting), then later at nite I wake up gasping for air, my breathing gets really shallow until I wake up barely breathing or not at all. I used to sleep with my inhaled next to my pillow during gymnastics season, the nebulizer all set up next to my bed.
Have your son tested for allergies, it may be pricey but it is worth it, I think there are MANY people misdiagnosed with EIA when it is really allergens in the place they are exercising in. Me, i'm a gymnast & i'm allergic to dust.. which is rampid in the gym. I can't run outside- i'm allergic to grass & ragweed. Just two examples of how allergic asthma can be masked as EIA. Plus EIA can quickly become regular asthma if it isn't already, it happened to me, no idea why. Especially at that young of an age.. I highly recommend taking him to see a pediatric allergist who specializes in asthma to get some pulmonary function tests & allergy tests! Better to be safe than sorry!

reader1 · 07-16-2004, 05:21 PM

It doesn't matter how rushed you are, anytime you talk with the doctor about your child's asthma or an illness you should take as much time as you need to.

Exercise asthma typically means that exercise - meaning vigorous play, running around, etc. - can trigger your child's asthma. Typically in young children this will require them to take a couple of puffs on an albuterol inhaler before recess, soccer practice, that sort of thing. If your doctor did not give you any specific instructions about how your child can participate normally in activity given certain preventative measures, then you need to call back and ask.