Skater's with Asthma

[JDC1]

Just wondering if anyone else here who skates has asthma and what do you do when you skate. I have asthma and I try to do my inhaler 30 minutes before I skate but I don't always remember and last night I forgot my inhaler. Do you just get off the ice and rest or slow down and breathe deeply? Just curious if anyone has any experience or advice.

[RoaringSkates]

I have asthma, but it's pretty mild and it doesn't affect me when I skate. However, in high school I was on the track and cross country teams, and it would definately bother me. Now, when I do very aerobic activity like running, I try to take my inhaler at least 15 minutes before I go. I also keep a spare inhaler in my gym bag so that I could puff if I forget.

If you have an attack because you forgot your inhaler, I think that you should stop skating, let your coach know what's up, and then sit down or slow WAY down and rest until you can get your breathing back in order. I always found that just slowing down didn't do it, unless I slowed down to a walk, so if you slow down on skates, just do very slow, gentle strokes around the rink. No moves, no jumps, no spins...just stroking.

Definately let your coach know that you're having an attack. That way, they can keep an eye on you while you're resting just in case you fall over. 8O

See if you can get a spare inhaler that you can just keep in your skate bag for emergencies. It would be an inhaler that never left your skate bag.

You should also talk to your doctor about this the next time you see her. That way, she can give you some advice that's particular to you, since your asthma may be more severe than mine and you may need different advice.

[speedy]

I remember reading that Sara Wheat grew up having to deal with asthma...try dropping her a line at her webpage and see what she says.

[flo]

Hi,
There are quite a few skaters with asthma. I actually did a survey on it a few years ago, and have a journal article if you're interested. If your asthma is bothering you, you may want to talk to your doctor and cosider one of the systemic - oral - medicatons (singulair and accolate). They have been successful with excercise induced asthma. I keep an inhaler in my skate bag, and do take breaks when I need them.

[Trif Fan]

I also have asthma. I do a treatment 15-20 minutes before skating. My asthma is affected by my scoliosis (I don't have full use of my left lung) so I'm very vigilant about my treatments. My coach is aware of this and is really great at making me take a break to catch my breath.

ITA about keeping an extra inhaler/inhalers in your skating bag. It took me awhile to actually do this: I was always forgetting them at home or leaving them in my backback. :roll:

[JDC1]

I am going to try and get an extra inhaler, I keep misplacing mine. Normally I sit down and rest for about 5 minutes and then I can breathe more easily again. Normally I cough when I have an attack but when I skate it's more like I can't breathe properly and become winded and then I feel a little weak, it's harder to gauge this reaction than my coughing attacks which are pretty obvious. My coach knows I have asthma but I think she forgets so I pretty much just take it upon myself to say when it's quits. I normally take group lessons and when I get too tired/breathless I just stop and take a breather.

I don't have a pulmonary specialist and I am thinking I probably should get one, my asthma seems to get a little worse each year. I used to be able to pretty much ignore it.

Flo, I'd love to read the article.!

Thanks for all your information!!

[Yazmeen]

As a physician and an asthmatic, my best advice would be to keep a duplicate of your "blast" inhaler (I assume you are talking about Proventil or something similar, ie: albuterol or the like) in your skate bag. You should be able to get a "sample" inhaler from your doctor. You also probably don't run thru one inhaler a month and depending on your prescription plan should be able to get a duplicate at the end of the month while you are still using the one.

I use one blast just to clear me out in the mornings, along with inhalant steroids (Aerobid) and Singulair tablets at night. If you are getting that winded from skating, your asthma sounds like it isn't under good control, and you may need maintenance meds such as Singulair or inhaled steroids. Talk to your doc. My asthma is actually at its best in the rink, as are my sinuses. My respiratory system loves the cool moist air of the ice rink, thank goodness!!

[CanAmSk8ter]

I have exercise-induced asthma. I would say it flares up due solely to skating maybe twice a year. I've found when I'm testing or competing, nerves tend to make it worse. Unfortunately, the Proventil tends to make me really shaky. I've found that it works best to take it about forty-five minutes before my warm up. The other time I have problems is when I have or am getting over a cold. I have a Serevent inhaler for when I'm sick with colds or flu b/c I get these God-awful coughs that keep me up all night and the Serevent lasts longer. When I've been sick (or when I am sick, since I don't usually take a day off even when I really should) I take the Serevent before I leave the house and use the Proventil just before I get on the ice. My coach says he can feel my hands shaking, but it's better than not being able to skate.

[Azlynn]

^ I have the same and use the same. I get attacks when the air is dry, or cold. I actually went out of town to skate last week and forgot my inhaler... was a bit iffy, but I made it through it.

As I recall, I've seen ads on tv re asthma starring Ben Ferriera.

[Moto Guzzi]

I have exercise induced asthma, too. I take Serevent in the morning and at night before going to bed and take Proventil 30 minutes before doing any type of exercise. When I was diagnosed, my doctor had me use a peak flow meter for a week and record everything. We discovered that without medication my lung capacity dropped to 25% of the normal range within 5 minutes of starting to exercise.

You would not believe the difference this medication has made in my life! I take dance classes and could never made it through the warmup without sounding like I was going to cough up a lung. I can now sleep through the night without waking up from coughing. I used to have about 5 asthma attacks a day but if I take my medications, get enough rest, stay healthy, and nobody smokes around me, I can go days without an attack.

I keep an extra inhaler in my skate bag. If my asthma bothers me while I'm skating, I get off and use my inhaler and continue skating, but at a much slower pace, until my breathing is better. Like Yazmeen, my asthma is better at the rink but an exceptionally cold rink does bother me.