Asthma from swimming

RE: Asthma from swimming

Former Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:53:32 GMT

I was diagnosed with asthma just last week. I have to sit out every third or forth repeat just to catch my breath also. (I've only been back in the pool about 5/6 weeks after a 32 year break.) No asthma as a child. I also took up rowing this past summer which only bothered me when racing, but not as badly as when I swim. Last night I began with the erg machine for indoor rowing competition, and quite honestly, I thought I would die when we had to do a 500 meter all out. Couldn't breath hardly at all. (Like after a 100 IM) I can see the benefit of using the erg machine to increase my lung capacity/breathing ability, but boy oh boy, I am really going to have to build up to that also. My asthma has nothing to do with the chlorine or the pool. Just can't breath. I have noticed a slight increase in lung capacity since I began. I make sure that I DO NOT breath every stroke. Either every 3 or 4. Then I don't feel like I'm hyperventlating.

RE: Asthma from swimming

no200fly — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:48:14 GMT

Andy – I had just the opposite experience. I had asthma as a child – to the point of once having to be taken to the emergency room for an adrenaline shot. I started competitive swimming at age 13 and, as I got in shape, had less frequent attacks, until it finally ceased completely. It came back in my mid 40’s and I continued to have more problems until I started swimming again at 49. One of the reasons I started swimming again was an article I read that talked about losing 1% lung capacity per year after age 30 unless you did some specified number of hours of aerobic exercise per week. I don’t know if it was true or not, but it scared me into doing something. When I started swimming again, I could not get enough air. I would sit out every other repeat to get my breath. Seven years later – I feel much better. I think the swimming has expanded my lungs and they are less likely to constrict when subjected to allergens. Apparently I am not allergic to chlorine. Sometimes in the summer when we swim outside, I get a small reaction when they mow the field next to the pool during workout, but it seems to be the grass that is the problem, not the water.

RE: Asthma from swimming

Former Member — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:07:30 GMT

I posted this thread because i thought it may interest masters swimmers who, like myself, spent alot of time in indoor, poorly ventilated pools. I am the only one in my family with asthma and also the only swimmer. I remember the coughing and the stinging eyes during some sessions because of the chlorine levels. Was this the cause of my asthma? I think todays pools have far better ventilation and control systems than the ones i grew up with but as the article states, the long term effects of chlorine are still unknown, esp on young developing lungs.