Saturday, March 10, 2007
Exercise-induced asthma, or EIA for short, is a type of asthma where symptoms are triggered by activity or exercise.
If you experience coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness when you exercise, you might have EIA. Or, if you feel extremely tired or winded when you exert yourself, EIA could b...
I use Advair(the inhaled spray. I also am supposed to use Ventolin for when I have an asthma attack which I have not had in the two years since taking Advair.
My question is I get short of breath when I walk up hills (not Stairs) I am talking hiking.
my Dr. told me I shouldn't have to use the Ventolin for S.O.B. when exercising.
My friend told me she uses her Ventolin 20 mins. before exercising and that her Dr. recommended this to her. now I am totaly confused. I am 70 years old and walk 3 miles a day 6 days a week. I don't run as I can't without getting really short of breath. I would like to start hiking when visiting my sisters in B.C. as I used to before moving to the prairies(in Canada). Can you tell me which of these Doctors are right.
Hi there... I can't speak with authority about your particular condition, but I do think your doctor might be misinformed. I'll tell you of my own experience. Even though I take an inhaled steroid 1 to 2 x/day, I often have to use my Ventolin on an as needed basis when exercising.
When I trained in karate, I usually used my Ventolin 10 to 20 minutes before class, as your friend said she does. It helped, but I still had to sometimes use it again if I exercised especially intensely. When I hike, I've found that if I pace myself very carefully when just starting to climb hills (i.e., go slow), I often don't need to use my Ventolin inhaler at all. But if I do start to wheeze or cough, then I use it.
It'd be nice if your Advair would prevent all asthma symptoms, but I don't think that's realistic when you exercise intensely. For exercise induced asthma (which most people with asthma do have), the standard treatment is to use the Ventolin inhaler ahead of the exercise session and then again as needed.
The bottom line is that it won't hurt you to use the Ventolin if you need to. So I would try it when you hike and see if it helps prevent or relieve your symptoms. The only precautionary note about using the Ventolin is using it in lieu of the Advair. That won't work. But using it (in addition to your daily/twice daily Advair) when you have symptoms or to help prevent symptoms when exercising should be perfectly OK.
Good luck & have fun!
Kathi
Thanks Kathy now I can go on with the rest of the siblings on the hike next spring!!!
Bee