Just finished my Pulmonary Function Test. Results are negative. I'm now waiting for my chest x-ray. I'm more and more convinced that just the moisture from the water as I swim freestyle is triggering Laryngospasm. I am "winded" at the end of 50yrds kick and pull but not into spasm. Again, any one out there that has experienced this problem?
Bronchospasm and laryngospasm are two completely different things, and the difference between the two is clear. With laryngospasm, you primarily have trouble inhaling (stridor). With bronchospasm, you primarily have trouble exhaling (wheezing), although if severe enough you may have wheezing on both expiration and inspiration. Also, are you coughing? If it is exercise induced asthma, there will usually be some coughing.
Some people will experience something called vocal cord dysfunction. Basically the vocal cords close when they should open and vice versa. It's often mistaken as an asthma attack and doesn't respond to Albuterol (rescue inhaler). If you swallow water or are somewhat nervous in the water this can happen and can be alleviated by learning to relax.
Exercise induced asthma with no other signs of asthma whatsoever is pretty rare. The reason exercise induced asthma occurs is because while exercising we breathe cooler, unhumidified air through our mouths (rather than the nose) which irritates lungs that have inflammatory potential. These same lungs would also be susceptible to asthma attacks from other irritants, allergens, and viruses. In swimming you would actually be getting reasonably humidified air, but the biproduct of chlorine and water can be a lung irritant and you would be inhaling a lot of it.
You might want to simply try taking 2-4 puffs of Albuterol 15 minutes prior to your workout and see if it helps. If not, then you might be experiencing vocal cord dysfunction. Or you would need to be checked thoroughly to make sure your heart is fine.
Bronchospasm and laryngospasm are two completely different things, and the difference between the two is clear. With laryngospasm, you primarily have trouble inhaling (stridor). With bronchospasm, you primarily have trouble exhaling (wheezing), although if severe enough you may have wheezing on both expiration and inspiration. Also, are you coughing? If it is exercise induced asthma, there will usually be some coughing.
Some people will experience something called vocal cord dysfunction. Basically the vocal cords close when they should open and vice versa. It's often mistaken as an asthma attack and doesn't respond to Albuterol (rescue inhaler). If you swallow water or are somewhat nervous in the water this can happen and can be alleviated by learning to relax.
Exercise induced asthma with no other signs of asthma whatsoever is pretty rare. The reason exercise induced asthma occurs is because while exercising we breathe cooler, unhumidified air through our mouths (rather than the nose) which irritates lungs that have inflammatory potential. These same lungs would also be susceptible to asthma attacks from other irritants, allergens, and viruses. In swimming you would actually be getting reasonably humidified air, but the biproduct of chlorine and water can be a lung irritant and you would be inhaling a lot of it.
You might want to simply try taking 2-4 puffs of Albuterol 15 minutes prior to your workout and see if it helps. If not, then you might be experiencing vocal cord dysfunction. Or you would need to be checked thoroughly to make sure your heart is fine.
