About 3 weeks ago after my swim meet, I got home and thought I was having a heart attack. My chest was tight and I couldn't breathe. It finally stopped but I was sore the next day. Then the next time I swam it happened again, only not as severly this time.
So I did a little research and I think it might be exercise induced asthma. I bought an over counter inhailer (sp) and it seems to be helping. The only thing is that I never had problems with asthma as a kid or anytime, this is entirely new.
Has anybody else had problems with this? I'm gonna go the doc when I get back from school, but does anyone have ways to deal with it?
Thanks!!!
Been there too. More so this year than in the past, but then this year I am pushing myself alot harder than in the past. I find a few things trigger it for me, hot, humid, heavy chlorine smell in the air. These conditions I tend to hold back alittle.
I also use an inhaler occasionally and probably need to use it more often than I do but I have never been big on taking drugs of any kind only supplements. If it happens at practice I will take a hit off the inhaler or use the air mask in the life guard station, which really helps especially since the air quality in our building is bad especially now that it is hot.
For me if I push to long and hard and start having issues breathing, if I don't back off I can cause my heart to race or have the tight chest. It actually happened at the end of the 1650 last year at Nationals but I felt the symtoms and backed off for a 50 making sure to get enough air and was then able to finish in a decent time. My splits really show it on the second to last 50.
Good luck with your asthma. Live to race another day.
About 3 weeks ago after my swim meet, I got home and thought I was having a heart attack. My chest was tight and I couldn't breathe....
Wasn't this right after you met me? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Kyra-
I was only diagnosed last year when I finally went to the doc begging for relief. My mom & grandfater have "regular" asthma with allergies & the like, but I never had a problem. Having always been very athletic (except for running, I cannot run), it took me a long time to understand that EIA was my problem with swimming (I can swim miles & miles without fatigue, but 3 sprints on a short interval would get me out of the water heaving for air).
Definitely go to a doctor. Describe your symptoms and explain the way you work out. There are many treatment options. Currently, I use a preventative inhaler daily along with OTC allergy meds (per Dr.'s orders). I also have an albuteral (sp?) rescue inhaler for meets & practice to use when there's no air. This I hardly use anymore because the other regimine keeps it under control most of the time.
Treating yourself may work in the short-run, but consult a doc for a long-term solution.
Dana
Kyra-
I was only diagnosed last year when I finally went to the doc begging for relief. My mom & grandfater have "regular" asthma with allergies & the like, but I never had a problem. Having always been very athletic (except for running, I cannot run), it took me a long time to understand that EIA was my problem with swimming (I can swim miles & miles without fatigue, but 3 sprints on a short interval would get me out of the water heaving for air).
Definitely go to a doctor. Describe your symptoms and explain the way you work out. There are many treatment options. Currently, I use a preventative inhaler daily along with OTC allergy meds (per Dr.'s orders). I also have an albuteral (sp?) rescue inhaler for meets & practice to use when there's no air. This I hardly use anymore because the other regimine keeps it under control most of the time.
Treating yourself may work in the short-run, but consult a doc for a long-term solution.
Dana
I got a bit breathless at Zones Dana..but I think that was after meeting you on the deck ;)
I am planning on going to the doc. I get home in about 2 weeks so I should be able to make it til then. Ugh...I hope it's not allergies. I'm beginning to think my body hates me.
Thanks all for the input!
Wasn't this right after you met me? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
It was acutally. hahaha.
Sunday night, I had in-service for work and it was after that it got bad.
About 3 weeks ago after my swim meet, I got home and thought I was having a heart attack. My chest was tight and I couldn't breathe. It finally stopped but I was sore the next day. Then the next time I swam it happened again, only not as severly this time.
So I did a little research and I think it might be exercise induced asthma. I bought an over counter inhailer (sp) and it seems to be helping. The only thing is that I never had problems with asthma as a kid or anytime, this is entirely new.
Has anybody else had problems with this? I'm gonna go the doc when I get back from school, but does anyone have ways to deal with it?
Thanks!!!
If you are having enough trouble that you are now taking action, you should go to a doctor now. go to any health clinic where ever you are. There could be several reasons. I have moderate asthma. Generally, an asthma attack is not going to stop on its own. The brochio passages are going to continue to swell. The real problem with asthma is not getting oxygen into the lungs but getting other gases out of the lungs. That's why people die. It is going to get worse unless you took in a broncho dialator (caffien, chocolate) and didn't know it. Over the counter drugs are not safe to use. Almost everyone who useds them tends to abuse them. Things like Primetine are meant to be used only on extreme occassions. During this time did you take your pulsse?
If you are having enough trouble that you are now taking action, you should go to a doctor now. go to any health clinic where ever you are. There could be several reasons. I have moderate asthma. Generally, an asthma attack is not going to stop on its own. The brochio passages are going to continue to swell. The real problem with asthma is not getting oxygen into the lungs but getting other gases out of the lungs. That's why people die. It is going to get worse unless you took in a broncho dialator (caffien, chocolate) and didn't know it. Over the counter drugs are not safe to use. Almost everyone who useds them tends to abuse them. Things like Primetine are meant to be used only on extreme occassions. During this time did you take your pulsse?
I didn't take my pulses but I didn't notice my heart racing abnormally either. Everytime it has happened has been after exercise so my heart rate has been elevated anyway, but it didn't feel dangerous.
I have a Primatene inhailer right now that my mom recommended I get (she's a PA) and I use it when it's bad enough I can't start to breath normally on my own. Really bad attacks are infrequent, I've only had 2 since this became a problem a few weeks ago. The one I mentioned in the very first post being the worst. The second being one I had last night were I had a chest rattling cough, but after a few puffs of the inhailer, stopped and normed out after about 10 minutes.
I would go to the doc now, but finals are coming up and I don't have time really. I only swim 3 days a week anyway, so I might just back off a bit til I get in to get some real treatment.
Kyra:
Years ago, I was racing (running) for the Air Force (yes, I'm Army...long story), a lady on the team was a fabulous runner, but after a race sometimes hours would have the problems you described.
My wife, who has asthma, told her on the bus back that it sounded like asthma. She went to a doctor. She had Exercise Induced asthma (EIA). No one had ever heard of it, but she got a whiffer and her time improved by leaps and bounds.
As it turns out, if you have Exercise Induced Asthma it can happen by degrees. What she told me then (early 1990s) was that "modern" thought was that a lot of people a some degree of EIA, but don't know it. They just assume a hard effort.
After you see the doc, I predict huge improvements. :applaud:
Yes, there ARE time that drugs ARE beneficial. Yes, I just fell off my soap box. :dedhorse: :blah:
