Exercise Induced Asthma vs. being out of shape, what do I have - Lung & Respiratory Disorders / COPD Message Board

speleojeff · 03-07-2004, 08:46 PM

OK, I know I'm out of shape (working on that) but whether this symptom is Exercise Induced Asthma I don't know. I will be consulting a doctor again in a month when I lose some more weight and get in better shape.

When I run (this only happens when I run) I can get fluid in my lungs if I run too long. right now the furthest I can go is 3/10ths of a mile before having to stop and walk, but I can over the period of a half hour complete a mile and a half run. The other day I did this and it was 39 degrees out and very dry air. about a half hour after I ran, I got fluid in my lungs that made me cough. I didn't have any breathing problems, tightness in my chest, etc, just this annoying fluid, which eventually subsided. But just 2 days ago, I repeated the experiment, and did the same thing but this time it was about 65 degrees out, and I didn't get any EIA symptoms.

I also found myself getting over oxygenated with my fingers tingling, and wonder if that is more a symptom of being out of shape and my cardiopulmonary system isn't honed, or if it is another aspect of EIA. I really need to know. Anybody have any ideas or experience with something like this?

Howitt44 · 03-08-2004, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speleojeff

OK, I know I'm out of shape (working on that) but whether this symptom is Exercise Induced Asthma I don't know. I will be consulting a doctor again in a month when I lose some more weight and get in better shape.

When I run (this only happens when I run) I can get fluid in my lungs if I run too long. right now the furthest I can go is 3/10ths of a mile before having to stop and walk, but I can over the period of a half hour complete a mile and a half run. The other day I did this and it was 39 degrees out and very dry air. about a half hour after I ran, I got fluid in my lungs that made me cough. I didn't have any breathing problems, tightness in my chest, etc, just this annoying fluid, which eventually subsided. But just 2 days ago, I repeated the experiment, and did the same thing but this time it was about 65 degrees out, and I didn't get any EIA symptoms.

I also found myself getting over oxygenated with my fingers tingling, and wonder if that is more a symptom of being out of shape and my cardiopulmonary system isn't honed, or if it is another aspect of EIA. I really need to know. Anybody have any ideas or experience with something like this?

Do you cough up phlegm? I get a little winded when I run, but don't cough. I am out of shape, though, and 70 lbs overweight. I wouldn't consider it a problem especially since it just happened just once and it was in cold weather.

wrin · 03-14-2004, 11:38 AM

One or the other can be ruled out through different modes of testing. Pulmonary function testing is one, and you might not even to have a 'challenge' done (like if they were to get you to go on the exercise bike).

There's also cardiac stress testing to see if it's got something to do with your heart. Bring it to your doctor and see what he recommends.

Both of these tests can make strong indications for whether it's just a matter of personal fitness.