Road Cycling - Asthma and the cyclist

I am wondering if many people on this list have problems with asthma. Especially of interest would be asthmatics who have cold weather as a trigger.

This morning when I went out, it was a brisk 50 - 55 deg F (damn thats cold in a T-shirt and shorts) and already I could start to feel the lungs tighten up. What a crappy ride, cold, asthma bothering me, and I had a minor wreck to boot ! Still better than not going, but I have had better mornings.

Anyway, I am now on a lot of medication to treat my asthma since I am now active (thank you cycling :)), but I am curious if there are tips that I am missing. Perhaps you can give some advice on how to deal with it ?

It is a constant concern as fall starts to approach. I REALLY need to stay riding all winter as cycling is an important part of my plan to lose weight, and improve my fitness, but cycling indoors will be so boring that I know I will lose interest.

Always keep the ventolin/salbutamol in the jersey pocket. Even if you don't need it, its like a security blanket and helps keep you relaxed.

What works for me (may not work for others) is to have a short hard burst of activity at the start of a ride/run. This will bring on the asthma. Then use a puff of the inhaler to clear it. Once cleared it doesn't come back for the rest of the session

Stew

Originally posted by stewartp
What works for me (may not work for others) is to have a short hard burst of activity at the start of a ride/run. This will bring on the asthma. Then use a puff of the inhaler to clear it. Once cleared it doesn't come back for the rest of the session

Stew

This works for me also.

Caffine helps clear my lungs also, so I do the DIETDEW and coffee.

As bad as the weather stays in your part of the country, you are probably going to have to cross train.....maybe swimming?

i had asthma really bad as a kid - was hospitalized like 3 times from 6 months to 12 - but i kind of "outgrew" it... meaning it's only mild now and i use an inhaler sometimes --- actually from about age 22-25 i stopped carrying the inhaler everywhere, but pretty much always have it with me now again since the last few years i've had more trouble...

anyway, i usually have POST-exercise asthma, meaning that i'm fine as i'm as riding hard and all, but when i stop for a break or get off the bike - Wham! asthma...

i think cycling helps b/c i have better overall lung capacity and stronger lungs plus my body's more efficient at using oxygen so when i do have an "attack" i can better deal with it...

i've never not been able to finish a ride b/c of asthma and hope never to have that happen (a few times i've had to take an extended break and get off the bike and stand and fight for breath and take my inhaler) ---- the mental side of controlling your breathing and not getting scared is also important --- as i've gotten older i've found i can almost "think" myself out of asthma... of course there is lots of new medicine out there too...

After never having asthma, I became a victim of "adult onset" some 5 years ago. Depending on the time of year (cold and allergy), I've tried a number of approaches depending on severity.

1. Expresso before ride: many asthma drugs are caffeine based so this is a quick substitute.
2. Warm up before long climbs: If I do a big climb too early, panting is insured.
3. Focus on breathing from your belly and loosen your throat.
4. I'll use an inhaler (various types --- they do keep getting improvements) before a long event like a century.
5. Pay attention to severity and bail (usually hills) when it's bad. It's not worth hurting yourself.

I'm intriqued by throwing in a sprint and delaying inhaler until asthma kicks in. Currently, I do it before and it seems to work and wonder why go through that cycle?

What type of asthma do you have? There's extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic is often exercise induced whereas intrinsic is not but rather is tiggered from infections and environmental factors. If you have the intrinsic type then breathing in cold air shouldn't cause much of a problem except that you need to keep your throat well hydrated. It is the dryness of the air, not the cold, that would be your main problem. I have the non-exercise induced type and I breathe better with cold moving air rather than hot stagnant air. It's infections like the common cold that become serious threats in my case.

Make sure you're hydrated before you ride and stay hydrated during the ride. Dehydration significantly affects asthma.

If the cold triggers it ,when it gets cooler try (I was never good at this) riding with a balaclava or face mask that will hold some warm air in around your mouth.

Take your meds about 1/2 hour before you go so they have time to kick in before you need them. Also, if you aren't on it, you might want to speak to your doc about a med called Intal that is specifically for exercise induced asthma.

Good luck!

I posted a discovery I made last winter on cycling with asthma. To my surprise, I think only three people reponded to my post.

I have exercise induced asthma and the cold winter air makes it worse. I don't take any medication and choose to stop for a half an hour in order to control the condition. The problem with the traditional road bike is the seating position which only allows you to use about 60 % to 80 % of your entire lung capacity. A person with asthma can lose another 30 % to 70% on top of that once the condition flares up. There is only one non medical solution to this.

The recumbent.

I made this startling discovery last winter when I rented a Bike E and was able to cycle for 20 miles without stopping since the asthma didn't get out of control. I'm tellig you folks, I could not believe it. It's really simple when you think about it. The upright seating position of a bent allow you to use 100% of your lung capacity all the time. Since it's a slow bike, you tend to take it easy and enjoy yourself. Asthma still takes away some of my lung capacity but NO WHERE near it used to before. I can ride for miles and miles.

During this winter, all I'm riding is a bent.

If you don't like bents, think they're too slow, ugly, and too expensive. Then you'll just have to take lots of medicine this winter. Quite frankly. With Bike E's costing just over $700.00, they are quite affordable.

I suggest reading a book called "Reversing Asthma" by Richard Firshein. You can't continue to acclerate your dosage year after year. You must try to lower your dossage. As you get older your body will become more dependant on the drug and it's effectiveness will diminish. This is not where you want to be.

best of luck.

Thanks for all the great replies. I'll try to hit a few:

1. Caffeine should not be a problem. Computer geeks thrive on it - how else can I stare at a monitor all day and keep a high intensity ? :crash:

2. The sprint method - I recently learned that an asthmatic reaction does tend to begin to relax 15 - 30 minutes after it occurs, something like that, so it makes sense. Problem is, on a cold day - it can get pretty tight on me real quick, and it is NO FUN !!

3. Swimming - sheesh, the reason I came to cycling was because it was the only steady exercise that did not bore me to tears (short attention span...what ?). Swimming was actually what helped break my childhood asthma, but I am not sure that I could do it on as regular basis as I do riding. I might start next summer though, always dreamed of doing a triathalon one day.

4. Face mask - I was afraid of that response, my problem was always that I felt I Could not get enough air, a big problem for the out-of-shape level we are dealing with here.

5. Recumbents - It looks very comfortable, but I am pretty tweaked about the speed I can get on my MTB, I am salivating at the speed I can one day get with a road bike, I dont see heading towards the recumbent. I do worry about doping up with the medicine, maybe I will check that book.

My life kinda sucks because I appear to have triggers that include dry, cold air (hot humid is great stuff), and a slew of allergens. I hope to control the allergic triggers, and work on the cold air with a mask, hopefully I can find one that lets in enough air. Maybe try the early sprints and carry the inhaler.

Thanks for all the responses - some good stuff here !!

My asthma is triggered by cold, dry air. I have never been on a bike without my inhaler in my jersey pocket. One thing I have learned is it takes about 20 to 30 minutes for me to get a good rythym between my legs and lungs. I always take a couple of puffs of the inhaler before riding.

Well, not to say anyone is wrong but caffeine itself speeds up your heart etc.. which could potentioly help. But there is one naturaly occuring drug.. (I can't remember name, my mom is a nurse who told me this).. in coffee which helps control asthma. I have had asthma since I was born. If the cold causes you problem me to sometimes, but not as often anymore. Try using inhalor before you go riding. It's best if you can prevent asthma problems alll together. In time your lung capacity with being active will build up so you will have less problems. As for face mask it causes me more problems, since I can not breathe as easily, but others have reported opposite effect so it will be trial and error.

I found the info on coffee :)
"Coffee contains naturally occurring chemicals quite similar to those that make drugs like theophylline effective asthma medications," explains Harold Nelson, M.D

The most dangerous things for me are mold and dogs and cats, which kills me because I love them so, but it will keep me from becoming that little old lady with 70 cats.
I have pretty much stopped exercising outdoors in the winter because I used to get sick every Christmas, if not before with a cold/bronchitis that turns into pneumonia, and then I'm knocked out for 3-4 weeks.
Generally when I'm having an attack, cold air helps me, not that that helps while you're exercising. Exercising in the heat and humidity makes me feel like I'm suffocating. Sometimes when I'm climbing a steep hill on a trail I can't tell if it's asthma that's making me breathe so hard or just the climb itself and the fact that I need to be in better shape. Have you ever considered taking Singulair? I know it helps me around the in-laws' dog. It might be worth asking your doctor about. Also, the extra running that I've done this summer seems to have helped whip my lungs into better shape, but it took a LOT to build up to it. Good luck finding what works best for you.