Allergies (breathing question)

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2009-09-16 11:43 AM

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Subject: Allergies (breathing question)

My allergies have been really bad the last week or so and its been affecting my running because my chest is tight and my nose in congested.

Last week I went for a three mile tempo run and felt great holding my tempo pace. This week I went on a four mile tempo run and I felt awful. By mile two I already felt uneasy and around mile three I was sucking wind. I held my tempo pace the whole time but I felt like I just ran at race pace for the last couple miles.

Should I be concerned about overtraining on a day like this? Am I going into oxygen debt because my lungs are tight on days where my allergy symptoms are bad? I have an inhaler to help with the symptoms, but I hate the change of seasons because allergys always get me down.

2009-09-16 12:16 PM
in reply to: #2409681

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Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)

Ringo311 - 2009-09-16 12:43 PM

My allergies have been really bad the last week or so and its been affecting my running because my chest is tight and my nose in congested.

Last week I went for a three mile tempo run and felt great holding my tempo pace. This week I went on a four mile tempo run and I felt awful. By mile two I already felt uneasy and around mile three I was sucking wind. I held my tempo pace the whole time but I felt like I just ran at race pace for the last couple miles.

Should I be concerned about overtraining on a day like this? Am I going into oxygen debt because my lungs are tight on days where my allergy symptoms are bad? I have an inhaler to help with the symptoms, but I hate the change of seasons because allergys always get me down.

I have mostly allergies and a little asthma, and it sounds like you are having asthma symptoms while you are running, which is causing the shortness of breath.   I would talk to your doctor about getting under better control during allergy season.  There are a few options- many people premedicate with albuterol before running when they think they may have symptoms.  Or you can take an inhaled corticosteroid just during allergy season.  Since I'm allergic to my dogs and dustbunnies, I get allergy season all year round!  Lucky me.  So I take Zyrtec and singulair all year.  Interestingly, I used to take Zyrtec alone, and had trouble with my asthma either with running or when snuggling with the puppies.  Since I started singulair* on top of it, I almost never have asthma symptoms.  Normally we recommend an inhaled corticosteroid as first line for asthma, I will sometimes recommend it as first line for kids with predominant allergies and mild asthma.

I would  be careful about overdoing it if you are having symptoms on the run.  Asthma can be really bad.  Talk to your doctor and get it under control.

Karen

*I will disclose that I have no financial relationship with the drug company that makes singulair!

2009-09-16 12:22 PM
in reply to: #2409681

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Payson, AZ
Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)
+1 on using singulair, but it is not cheap.  But for me it is the difference between near daily attacks and none (darn pets).  Allergies alone shouldn't cause a shortness of breath.  Sounds like you got a bit more going on.
2009-09-16 1:34 PM
in reply to: #2409681

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Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)
As a child I had frequent bouts of bronchitis.  Was sick a lot.  About 10 years ago, I  had a very large nasal polyp removed from my maxillary sinus and had my sinuses drained.  I was good up until last spring and my seasonal allergies were terrible.  I developed a severe sinus infection and had to take antibiotics for the 1st time in 9 years.  After the infection, every time I ran, I couldn't breathe.  My chest would get tight, and I felt like I was trying to breathe through a coffee stirrer.  If I slowed to about an 11 minute mile, it was a little better, but if I pushed at all, couldn't breathe again.  My doctor gave me an albuterol inhaler and told me to use it 15 minutes prior to running.  I think I have developed exercise induced asthma and it may have been triggered by the seasonal allergies that I had in the spring.  My daughter has EIA and she uses an inhaled steroid, singulair, Zyzal, and we have the albuterol inhaler for swim team and P.E.

jami   
2009-09-16 2:10 PM
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Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)
My PCP told me to go on an inhaled corticosteroidsteroidal puffer for my cold induced asthma as frequent use of the albuterol could lead to problems or a loss of efficacy. Is that true? 


Edited by blairrob 2009-09-16 2:11 PM
2009-09-16 4:11 PM
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Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)
blairrob - 2009-09-16 3:10 PM My PCP told me to go on an inhaled corticosteroidsteroidal puffer for my cold induced asthma as frequent use of the albuterol could lead to problems or a loss of efficacy. Is that true? 


yup.  when i am using my inhaler often, it takes way more puffs to get relief.  if you are using it more than like twice a week, you need more management meds.

2009-09-16 4:26 PM
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Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)
meherczeg - 2009-09-16 6:11 PM
blairrob - 2009-09-16 3:10 PM My PCP told me to go on an inhaled corticosteroidsteroidal puffer for my cold induced asthma as frequent use of the albuterol could lead to problems or a loss of efficacy. Is that true? 


yup.  when i am using my inhaler often, it takes way more puffs to get relief.  if you are using it more than like twice a week, you need more management meds.


Thanks!
2009-09-16 4:32 PM
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Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)
If it is asthma I highly recommend Advair. Its amazing stuff. I tried singular and normal inhalers but nothing worked. Nearly 6 or so years ago now i got on advair and havent looked back since. I rarely even carry a rescue inhaler with me.
2009-09-16 6:27 PM
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Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)
I have asthma (not severe, but definitely have issues with sports stuff).  I take singulair all year round, and have an albuterol inhaler for when I need it.  I also take allegra 180mg all year round too.  (I have all kinds of crazy environmental and seasonal allergies, so it's easier to just do it all year).  If I don't take them consistently, I find I have more problems.  I don't know about oxygen debt, but when I feel like crap and have trouble breathing, it just makes me feel awful during exercise and for much of the recovery after.

As far as the expense of Singulair, I have to disagree, I do the 3-month mail order pharmacy with our plan, and it's like $20 for 3 months, so there are definitely ways to cut the cost, if you can.
2009-09-17 6:17 AM
in reply to: #2409681

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Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)

Is it possible to have asthma brought on by allergies?

When I had a hard time breathing i was on a bike trail that goes through fields and wetlands where allergens are high. It seems that breathing hard in an area where theres a lot of irritants caused my symptoms, because I run on the trail often for easy runs and dont have an allergic reaction. Also, i've seen an allergist and the only thing i reacted to in the shots/scratch tests was house dust and cockroaches. Thats when i got the inhaler with antihistamine.  

Also today I did a workout on the local track and my breathing was great. I did 400's at speed pace 4-5 seconds faster than my goal. I had to force myself to slow down. After one of my worse workouts in 6 weeks, I had one of my best workouts. Weird.

2009-09-17 6:55 AM
in reply to: #2410474

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Payson, AZ
Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)
jenmel - 2009-09-16 4:27 PM
As far as the expense of Singulair, I have to disagree, I do the 3-month mail order pharmacy with our plan, and it's like $20 for 3 months, so there are definitely ways to cut the cost, if you can.


That assumes everyone has a good plan though.  It is regular $100/month for it.  I get coverage as well, but, it is still an expensive drug.  So if your dr recommends it go best to go into it with open eyes and find out what your coverage is.

2009-09-17 7:16 AM
in reply to: #2409681

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Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)
Thought this might be appropriate for this thread.  Its a $20 dollar off coupon for Singulair:

Links at bottom of website:  http://www.singulair.com/montelukast_sodium/singulair/consumer/index.jsp
2009-09-17 7:50 AM
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Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)
TeamAngel - 2009-09-17 8:16 AM Thought this might be appropriate for this thread.  Its a $20 dollar off coupon for Singulair:

Links at bottom of website:  http://www.singulair.com/montelukast_sodium/singulair/consumer/index.jsp


THANKS!!!
2009-09-17 9:35 AM
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Subject: RE: Allergies (breathing question)
Ringo311 - 2009-09-17 7:17 AM

Is it possible to have asthma brought on by allergies?

When I had a hard time breathing i was on a bike trail that goes through fields and wetlands where allergens are high. It seems that breathing hard in an area where theres a lot of irritants caused my symptoms, because I run on the trail often for easy runs and dont have an allergic reaction. Also, i've seen an allergist and the only thing i reacted to in the shots/scratch tests was house dust and cockroaches. Thats when i got the inhaler with antihistamine.  

Also today I did a workout on the local track and my breathing was great. I did 400's at speed pace 4-5 seconds faster than my goal. I had to force myself to slow down. After one of my worse workouts in 6 weeks, I had one of my best workouts. Weird.



Most definately, I run year round with an under armor mask, makes it a whole lot harder to run, but I will suffer a whole lot more if I have an asthma attack or upset my allergies. I also respond to high levels of irritants that I'm not allergic too. Sounds alot like you could have some form of exercise induced asthma for sure. If you had asthma due to allergies you would respond regardless of effort level. Most likely drainage from your allergies is clogging up your chest if its not some infection causing it. Make a fist and not so lightly hit on both sides of your chest, this would loosen up anything in there, do about 15 mins before you go. Maybe try sleeping propped up as well this would help with the drainage.


Edited by mkarr0110 2009-09-17 9:40 AM
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