Athletes with Asthma - Asthma Message Board

NYCman · 07-14-2009, 12:16 PM

I've heard some athletes have asthma. How do they do it? When I was really young (9-10 years old) the doctors told me I had Asthma, but I think I must've grown out of it or something. Anyways, recently I've had some breathing issues. I've been through all the EKGs, had a CT angiogram, and visited the Pulmonologist, so that means I've been told whatever I may have is not super serious. If I do have some asthma though, it may be more exercise induced. What do athletes do? Exercises to expand or strengthen their lungs? Or something else?

Titchou · 07-14-2009, 12:35 PM

Very simple - they medicate with albuterol before cardio. I have a mild to moderate case of asthma and I jog. It took a little time to find the right combination but I now do 2 puffs of albuterol 60 seconds apart and 20 minutes before jogging. I've easily run 5K's doing that. Some people can do one puff fewer minutes before and some more. It's just trial and error.

nscrbug · 07-15-2009, 02:45 PM

I've done several triathlons and 5k's, and I've had asthma since I was 16 (I'm 43 now). I personally know many more athletes with asthma, and they manage just fine by medicating with both a rescue-inhaler and preventive meds like Advair & Singulair. It takes some fine-tuning to figure out the right combo of meds, as well as timing them properly...but you CAN be an athlete AND live with asthma.