Asthma and running

Dear my brothers  & sisters. 

My asthma was detected during infant stage.  I lost a lot of school days due to severe asthma attacks.  Admitted to the hospital for several days, especially during winter or rainy seasons.  (Now, I realized how much my mother suffered to bring me up). 

You might be knowing the climatic conditions inKerala,India, Almost wet air (more water content in the air). And having more chances to get infected.

 When I was 10 -14 (during my 5th to 9th class), I used to play cricket with my friends in the school.  But at night, wheezing starts.  This was for almost 5 years.

I concentrated in my studies during college days,  (didn’t aware of any physical exertion) completed my engineering at 21. 

I came toDubaiat the age of 26, which is a dry desert.  The atmosphere / air is dry and having humidity.  My asthmatic symptoms gone totally.  I was happily earning and helped my parents financially to bring up my brother and sister.

I married at the age of 31 and healthy twin girls were born after an year.  Both are not having any asthmatic symptoms, now at 10, (studying in 5th standard).

After 40, the symptoms came up.  I consulted a doctor inKerala,India, He advised me to use inhaler. Two puffs a day gave me cure from wheezing and coughing.  Two years gone with the inhalers.

I used to search the internet frequently for asthma cure and remedies.   And found that regular exercise can give relief from asthma.

Now I am 43, I started walking at a slow pace around a park in Sharjah (approx 1.6 Km). Took  8 minutes initially, then slowly reduced the time to 6.5 minutes to complete one round.  Gasping heavily for air at the end of 4 rounds…..!!!

A month gone.  I started walking at a moderate pace and jogging for 30 seconds in between.    A total of 7 rounds in 44minutes.  My heart beat raised to 108 – 122. and the rest rate reduced to 60 - 63.

2 months gone now.  I stopped using inhalers.  No cold/cough during this winter.

I am walking (+ jogging) 5 days a week. My weight reduced to 65Kg (from 75kg ). My pant size is 33 now (was 40 before).  My blood pressure and sugar levels are normal. 

I will  continue my walking (+ jogging) and advise you to have a regular physical  exercise, It will give you immunity from  all diseases.

If you're just starting out running, go see your asthma nurse and ask for a review, mentioning your exercise plans. Last spring I got swapped from one inhaler to another and it made all the difference to me, especially in the summer. I don't have bad asthma in general, mine is allergy and exercise induced, but in the past I've had flare-ups serious enough that I've ended up in A&E and hospitalised for days...

I'd say if you're just starting out running, always take your inhaler and mobile phone with you and wear a medical alert bracelet just in case. Run short loops by your house so you won't be far from home in case anything does go wrong. As asthma is often exacerbated by stress/worry/panic, minimising the risk of having things to worry about will also minimise the risk of attacks. Used to be if I forgot my inhaler on a run and realised it, that alone could be enough to trigger wheeziness. Sounds bonkers but there you go!

Once you get more confident you can venture further afield but to start with stay close to home. Using the blue inhaler before a run works for me, as does taking antihistamines in the summer. I never have problems in cold weather, it's the heat that bothers me. I know some people with asthma are the exact opposite though...

I was diagnosed in 2005 at age 32, been running marathons since 2008 and ultra marathons since last year. As I've got fitter, my asthma symptoms have decreased.