This seems to be a new issue, I didn't find anything like it under the search function. I swim at 5:30 am, and do 2000 meters, freestyle and kick sets. I just recently started taking more strokes between breaths, I was doing 2-4, now I'm doing 6-8. I do have asthma, but I've not had problems swimming before, and I don't have any issues while I'm exercising. The onset of symptoms is usually around 5-6 hours AFTER I finish my workout. Anybody out there ever have this happen?
Former Member
I don't have asthma but I did read this article just moments before I found your post.
story.news.yahoo.com/news
Originally posted by Fitswimmer04
This seems to be a new issue, I didn't find anything like it under the search function. I swim at 5:30 am, and do 2000 meters, freestyle and kick sets. I just recently started taking more strokes between breaths, I was doing 2-4, now I'm doing 6-8. I do have asthma, but I've not had problems swimming before, and I don't have any issues while I'm exercising. The onset of symptoms is usually around 5-6 hours AFTER I finish my workout. Anybody out there ever have this happen?
It is funny that this topic came up. This past Tuesday I had to transport a hs swimmer by squad to the hospital due to her having an asthma attack during the 200IM. She finished the race in near PR time and immediately had a hard time breathing. Her inhaler wasn't doing the trick and I had to call the squad. She's ok but it makes me believe that the chlorine level was high and the air wasn't filtered very well. The air was very hot and thick in the pool area.
The levels of chlorine might be causing you to have asthmatic episodes. Check to see what the level of chlorine might be. Safe levels differ according to who is running the pool. Last year my hs swimmers were complaining about the taste in the pool during their warm-up. The Aquatics Director tested the water and it measured a 13.4! A little high. I about jumped in just to experience it. I did a little research and the Health Dept. has no threshold number for chlorine, only a minumum level of 1.
This is in Ohio. I wonder from everyone what minumum levels and maximum levels are for chlorine in other states. I keep my backyard pool between 1-3.
I forgot to mention that 13.4ch practice ended and did not resume until the chlorine level was at normal levels of below 5 which was the next day. I agree 13.4 is dangerous. Anything above a 6 is harmful to workout swimmers IMO. I usually do not have practice if the ch level is above 5 unless it is outdoors. And then only barely above 5. I cancel if it is above 5 indoors. Lungs are pretty important.
I am a non-asthmatic with EIB (exercise-induced bronchotitis). I have a lot of the same problems you described, Fitswimmer, with some of my symptoms occuring several hours after exercise. And yes, even for non-asthmatics, the high chlorine levels are pretty dangerous.
The other thing with EIB patients is that we respond badly to frigid air. Not entirely sure how similarly asthmatics are affected by what we're affected by, but it's a shot in the dark.
My respiratory therapist decided to change up my treatments after I had some problems controlling my symptoms after a practice when the winter hit. She told me to use my rescue inhaler before I practiced, about 10-15 minutes beforehand (I'm sure other asthmatics as well as non- also do this), only one or two puffs, and then, if I still had trouble breathing after a workout, it was okay to use it again. The medication before my workout actually helped, it made my symptoms much less severe, and I didn't experience them hours later like I did before.
I'm not sure what triggered yours suddenly, and you definitely need to bring it up with your doctor, especially if your symptoms continue to get aggravated by the chlorine for several hours afterward.
~Steph~
I have pretty bad asthma. I can use only about 72% of my lung capacity. However, they are so big that's over 12 liters-it used to be over 15liters. All alergists I've ever talked to say that chlorine isn't an allergant, it is an iritant. The high level is really dangerous for most asthmatics. It probably would have sent me to the ER. This is true especially if the water is overly warm or hot.
There was a study in the Lancet during the summer (I think) that said that even though swimming is probably the best sport/physical activity for asthmatics, our lungs undergo certain changes that do not appear in the lungs of nonasthmatic swimmers nor in ashtmatics who do not swim (Personally, I'm very proud opf my mutant nature!). There is also cromolyn sulfate (sp). It is suppose to help with chemically induced 7 activity induced asthma. I've never thought it did much for me. But as eye drops it keeps my eyes from getting red. There is also a study several years ago about using Theodur and swimmers. Many doctors won't use it anymore. I think it is a wonderful drug.
I'm pretty sure (I'm not a doctor, but have done a lot of reading into asthma ) that the problem could have been the high level. The only hting is the delay in onset. It could be that you are coming into contact iwth something else. I've noticed that when I have problems because of chlorine, it happen pretty fast. Are you aspirin sensitive? That is a good indicator that chlorine will bother you. I was told that by an allergist at Wash U in St. Louis. Some one once told me that if the chlorine is high, drink a lot of water and/or Gatorade along wiht your drugs when you begin to notice the effects and right after swimming. It seems to help me. Also, I use a nebulizer and never an inhaler when I get into problems with breathing while doing anything physical. Most asthmatics have real problems getting the medicine into their lungs if they are also breathing heavily because of exercise.
Besides bringing it up with your doctor, talk to a resperatory therapists. I've found out they love to educate the public and are very knowledgeable about really obscure things about asthma.
Craig, they are so big that's over 12 liters-it used to be over 15liters. Can you please check those figures again:D
Otherwise you have the largest lungs of any human on the planet. Seven lites is huge, pros like Lance Armstrong are close to 8 liters. I believe the world record holders for free diving down to 300+ feet are also at 8 liters. These people can hold their breaths 7 minutes or more:D
Back in 1990 I was in great shape, lots of 200 flys and breaststrokes. I had a test at 6.2 liters. Had a bad case of bronchitus and suspected I had asthma. Measures 4.7 liters, so I lost about a large soda bottle of capacity.
I had every asthma medicine known, including oral steroids (predisone) each year. Kept getting worse each year, could no longer swim a 200 well and went dowm to the 50 ***:(
One inhaler said that it suppressed the immune system, meaning you get sick more often, and worse. Nearly had pneumonia 4 times.
Finally in 1997 Singulair came out. I eventually weaned myself off the worst oral inhalers. The Doctor did not want me to do it, but was happy after I was finally off it (Flovent). Check out my articles on Asthma at http://www.breaststroke.info/
I can usually blow 800+ on the peak flow meters, on godd days I can peg the meter.
I disagree with taking an inhaler 10 minutes before swimming. Use your non emergency inhaler at least 30-45 minutes before workout. I use Albuterol.
But be sure to talk to your Doctor, the specialists love to talk and love to hear your success stories. I am part of a team, my Doctors and myself. I even gave my specialist my last All American patch.
I heard a lot that non-asthmatic swimmers can actually develop asthma because of chlorine.Is that true?Do you know anyone who experienced it?
Thanks.
P.S.I am just concerned since I have no asthma and would like to stay that way ...
I have been having trouble breathing when i swim since I was really young. I was told that I had exercise induced asthma and was given an inhaler when I was 14. I stopped swimming when I was 21 and just started again in August. While I was not swimming I didn't have bad symptoms. I just went to the doctor the other day and I was told that I have full blown asthma. The doctor said that he sees many many swimmers after years of exposure develop full blown asthma and he was indicating to me that the chlorine was the reason.
I have been referred to a respritory specialist because it is pretty severe and I hope that there is a solution--hopefully this doesn't include staying away from a pool--since I coach as well.
Suzanne, I am literally shocked!Does that mean that years from now I am going to be one of the folks with asthma developed by swimming?I love swimming and cannot see myself without it, but asthma... man, i really am not excited about getting one.That is just so discouraging...:-(((
