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Is an inhaler cheating? (Page 2)
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 2009-08-19 11:18 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Champion  19812     MA |  Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating?I have exercise induced asthma to. No it isn't cheating. I used to use an inhaler and finally this off season after a bad asthma bout in IM last summer saw a pulmanalogist. He put me on inhaled steroids and now I carry my inhaler but haven't had to use it once in last 6 months. Inhaler makes my HR go up. I like my current method much better of controlling my asthma. |
| 2009-08-19 11:19 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
| Alpharetta, Georgia | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? I have heard urband legends about triathletes using inhalers to enhance their lung capacity - when they were not diagnosed with asthma. Definite unfair advantage if you do not have the medical condition, from what I understand. No, no facts or sources to back this up. Just urban legend  |
| 2009-08-19 11:39 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Regular 80 Dallas | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? I was in the same boat as you OP. I finally went to see and allergy/asthma specialist last week. They put me on an allergy nose spray and an inhaler to use before exercise. Now I have used the inhaler only once on a training run so far, but man does it make a difference. I could breath. Do I think it is cheating? no...I was able to breath, not drop a 6min mile. Now if you attach the inhaler to your race belt and use it as a rocket booster.... |
| 2009-08-19 3:23 PM in reply to: #2357886 |
Master 3127 Sunny Southern Cal | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? I'm pretty sure that people operating without limbs and using prosthetic devices fall into a different category of entrant than someone using an asthma inhaler. If the poster had asked if it was cheating to use a prosthetic leg, my answer would have been completely different. Not even close to the same situation. I'm sure that asthma falls into different classes of severity. If I couldn't participate without using an inhaler, I'd use an inhaler. But, if I could participate without meds and just deal with it, then I would go that route. Me personally, I could walk into a doctor's office and legitimately get a prescription for an inhaler. The asthma that I occasionally experience when running is fairly mild. Am I going to get a prescription? No, I don't need it. Am I the poster? No I am not. That's his decision. His body & situation. His choice. But I would not have the same feeling of accomplishment if I were using an inhaler and got a top 3 in my AG unless I absolutely couldn't participate without it and took the minimum amount of meds to be able to function. That's me. To each his own. |
| 2009-08-19 3:29 PM in reply to: #2358054 |
Champion 8936 | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? lisac957 - 2009-08-19 11:19 AM I have heard urband legends about triathletes using inhalers to enhance their lung capacity - when they were not diagnosed with asthma. Definite unfair advantage if you do not have the medical condition, from what I understand. No, no facts or sources to back this up. Just urban legend It's just urban legend. It doesn't work that way. Now they ARE stimulants, so there is some potential benefit from them (which is why they're illegal without a prescription and clearance). |
| 2009-08-19 3:33 PM in reply to: #2357830 |
Expert 1690 | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? aquagirl - 2009-08-19 10:57 AM SevenZulu - 2009-08-19 10:09 AM Ummmm.....sorry but when you have asthma using an inhaler does NOT give you an advantage...........it just allows you to have lungs that function normally. Asthma is a disease.....an inhaler helps to treat it. Plain and simple. Now if you do NOT have asthma and then start using an inhaler i suppose thats a different matter ........... x2. Ive suffered from asthma all my life, hospitalized multiple times etc, i wouldnt make it a single day without my meds. The only advantage to be had by this illness is a long time learned ability to exercise/perform hypoxicly (word?) nearly all the time. |
| 2009-08-19 3:33 PM in reply to: #2357558 |
Veteran 314 SoCal | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? inhalers - especially rescue inhalers (like albuterol, which is what i'm guessing people are referring to when they just say "inhaler" - have medication in them called beta-2-adrenergic agonists. they're for people who have asthma -- otherwise known as a type of reactive airway DISEASE. this medication relaxes the smooth muscle that lines the bronchioles/airways, decreasing the reactive constriction that people with asthma experience. taking albuterol inhalers when you do not have reactive airway disease will not do anything to increase lung capacity, give you more powerful lungs or better lungs or anything like that. rescue inhalers will just basically increase your heart rate. not much else. other inhalers - steroid inhalers, leukotriene inhibitors, etc ... different mechanisms of action, but the overall goal is the same. decrease inflammation and relax the overactive airway muscles that line the "breathing tubes" making up your lung air highways, for lack of better terms. again, no benefit to people without reactive airway disease. |
| 2009-08-19 3:36 PM in reply to: #2357558 |
Expert 1690 | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? prolly a dumb question but can you carry your inhaler on the course? Oh and wasnt there an olympic gold medalist who had his medal pulled because they said his prosthetic legs gave him a spring advantage? |
| 2009-08-19 4:00 PM in reply to: #2358704 |
Pro 5011 Twin Cities | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? SevenZulu - 2009-08-19 3:23 PM I'm pretty sure that people operating without limbs and using prosthetic devices fall into a different category of entrant than someone using an asthma inhaler. If the poster had asked if it was cheating to use a prosthetic leg, my answer would have been completely different. Not even close to the same situation. I'm sure that asthma falls into different classes of severity. If I couldn't participate without using an inhaler, I'd use an inhaler. But, if I could participate without meds and just deal with it, then I would go that route. Me personally, I could walk into a doctor's office and legitimately get a prescription for an inhaler. The asthma that I occasionally experience when running is fairly mild. Am I going to get a prescription? No, I don't need it. Am I the poster? No I am not. That's his decision. His body & situation. His choice. But I would not have the same feeling of accomplishment if I were using an inhaler and got a top 3 in my AG unless I absolutely couldn't participate without it and took the minimum amount of meds to be able to function. That's me. To each his own. How are they totally different? They are medical conditions requiring a device to bring function up to a "normal" level. Dude with one leg could probably PARTICIPATE with only one leg. But why should he? If you need glasses or contacts, do you take those off to race? What about medication for depression? What about if you have a splitting headache before the race? Do you take an advil? Edited by mmrocker13 2009-08-19 4:00 PM |
| 2009-08-19 4:43 PM in reply to: #2358797 |
| Vancouver, BC | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? mmrocker13 - 2009-08-19 2:00 PM How are they totally different? They are medical conditions requiring a device to bring function up to a "normal" level. Dude with one leg could probably PARTICIPATE with only one leg. But why should he? If you need glasses or contacts, do you take those off to race? What about medication for depression? What about if you have a splitting headache before the race? Do you take an advil? IIRC, the guy who had 2 prosthetic blade legs was denied by the Olympic committee from competing in the regular Olympics because it was seen as an unfair advantage. I think SevenZulu's point is that if you are coming in top whatever, and using an inhaler, then that's going to raise some eyebrows. Then again, maybe you consider that to be 'normal'. |
| 2009-08-19 5:10 PM in reply to: #2357558 |
Expert 1690 | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? Hmmm hasnt raised too many eyebrows yet. If Olympians are allowed to use their inhalers regularly then there is definately no "performance enhancing" aspect to them, besides allowing the athlete to use most of their aerobic ability. http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/asthmaqa interview and bio of a few of the 2000 olympic swim squad. |
| 2009-08-19 5:18 PM in reply to: #2357558 |
Elite 4048 Gilbert, Az. | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? jtbaldwin - 2009-08-19 6:19 AM A friend of mine that runs completitively told me that if I were competitive, I'd be tested at running events for such a violation. Does the same go for tri's? I'm still not going to compete for anything, except to break into the top-half vs. bottom half. I'm a lifetime athlete, and I got diagnosed a little over a year ago. It does make a difference, doesn't it? :D And it's perfectly legitimate, even if you get tested. As long as it is a medical necessity (Allergist or similar has prescribed it for an ongoing condition), then you simply present your waiver. (If you ever qualify for anything, you'll need to apply for a waiver, I believe. ) John |
| 2009-08-19 5:38 PM in reply to: #2358917 |
| Vancouver, BC | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? mkarr0110 - 2009-08-19 3:10 PM Hmmm hasnt raised too many eyebrows yet. If Olympians are allowed to use their inhalers regularly then there is definately no "performance enhancing" aspect to them, besides allowing the athlete to use most of their aerobic ability. http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/asthmaqa interview and bio of a few of the 2000 olympic swim squad. The difference with swimming is that the swimmer cannot use the inhaler during the race. The question was whether it's legal during the race. |
| 2009-08-19 6:21 PM in reply to: #2357558 |
| Veteran 142 Windsor, Ontario via the Detroit Tunnel | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? No benefit for people without asthma. Puff away. Here is some evidence. Title: Effects of inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids on exercise induced arterial hypoxaemia in trained male athletes Results: There were no significant differences between the drug (D) and placebo (P) conditions for minimal SaO2 (D = 93.6 (1.4), P = 93.0 (1.1)%; p = 0.93) VO2MAX (D = 61.5 (7.2), P = 61.9 (6.3) ml/kg/min; p = 0.91), peak power (D = 444.4 (48.3), P = 449.4 (43.9) W; p = 0.90), peak VE (D = 147.8 (19.1), P = 149.2 (15.5) litres/min; p = 0.82), or peak heart rate (D = 182.3 (10.0), P = 180.8 (5.5) beats/min; p = 0.76). Conclusions: A therapeutic dose of salbutamol and fluticasone did not attenuate EIAH during maximal cycling in a group of trained male non-asthmatic athletes. http://bjsm.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/39/12/917 |
| 2009-08-19 7:06 PM in reply to: #2358797 |
Pro 4828 The Land of Ice and Snow | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? mmrocker13 - 2009-08-19 5:00 PM SevenZulu - 2009-08-19 3:23 PM I'm pretty sure that people operating without limbs and using prosthetic devices fall into a different category of entrant than someone using an asthma inhaler. If the poster had asked if it was cheating to use a prosthetic leg, my answer would have been completely different. Not even close to the same situation. I'm sure that asthma falls into different classes of severity. If I couldn't participate without using an inhaler, I'd use an inhaler. But, if I could participate without meds and just deal with it, then I would go that route. Me personally, I could walk into a doctor's office and legitimately get a prescription for an inhaler. The asthma that I occasionally experience when running is fairly mild. Am I going to get a prescription? No, I don't need it. Am I the poster? No I am not. That's his decision. His body & situation. His choice. But I would not have the same feeling of accomplishment if I were using an inhaler and got a top 3 in my AG unless I absolutely couldn't participate without it and took the minimum amount of meds to be able to function. That's me. To each his own. How are they totally different? They are medical conditions requiring a device to bring function up to a "normal" level. Dude with one leg could probably PARTICIPATE with only one leg. But why should he? If you need glasses or contacts, do you take those off to race? What about medication for depression? What about if you have a splitting headache before the race? Do you take an advil? Well said! Oh wait ...I know! All of us asthmatics will forgo the inhalers if all of the lucky athletes with normal lung function race whilst breathing through a straw......THAT should level the field!! |
| 2009-08-19 7:21 PM in reply to: #2358871 |
Pro 5011 Twin Cities | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? But he is NOT denied from competing in the para games...where he is on an even playing field. I have been on an inhaler, not for asthma, but for a respiratory condition. Nothing magic happened. (except being able to breathe) I finish okay in races, top 5% or so, sometimes higher... and my performance didn't change a bit the time I was on the inhaler from the times I wasn't. All it let me do is breathe normally, and perform at my normal levels. An inhaler...glasses...whatever, they aren't designed to give folks an ADVANTAGE. They are designed to make your sh1t work right so you can be "normal". |
| 2009-08-19 7:53 PM in reply to: #2357558 |
| Member 38 | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? Here's a relatively recent (2007) abstract from an article in the journal "Sports Medicine". The title is "Do inhaled beta(2)-agonists have an ergogenic potential in non-asthmatic competitive athletes?" ... in other words, do they give you an advantage. Seems like the beta-agonists such as albuterol in the ORAL form (not inhaled) may give you some mild advantage, but the inhalers seem pretty innocent. See below link ... http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17241101?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum |
| 2009-08-19 9:16 PM in reply to: #2357558 |
Pro 4360 Baton Rouge area | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? Never considered my inhaler an aid. Lifetime asthmatic. On a good day my lung capacity (there are a couple of numbers involved but I will keep it simple) is about 70-75% of the avg person. Hits 78-80% with a couple of puffs. Want the same advantage as me, pop some caffiene and now we are even. Except you probably have more lung capacity then me. It's not cheating if it was properly prescribed. |
| 2009-08-19 10:32 PM in reply to: #2357558 |
Member 84 | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? I don't mean to prolong this thread any more by restating the same thing again and again, but I agree with the folks who say this isn't cheating. Using an inhaler simply allows those of us with breathing problems to perform at a level close to those who have no issues. I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease several years ago that left me with pulmonary fibrosis and about scarred all but about 60% of my lung capacity. Has it stopped me? Initially, yes. But then I got off my azz and refused to let it beat me. I use a steroid inhaler every morning and probably will for the rest of my life. I also use a 'rescue' inhaler each time I train or workout, but I ONLY use it before a workout. If I'm taking a day off, I don't use it. Call me a cheater. At this point in my life I don't care. I'm not racing against anyone but myself and have no other aspirations but to try and continuously push myself to do different things, live my life and maintain what lung capacity I have left!!  |
| 2009-08-20 10:26 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
| Veteran 154 Richmond, KY | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? Forgive me for not knowing very much about asthma, but does heat affect it? If not then I would have to say in the case of the OP that his problems were related to the heat rather than anything else. He said that he was able to run the same on a 90 degree day as he could on a 70 degree day by using the inhaler. I can tell you from personal experience that I probably have over a minute per mile difference in my times with those 2 temperatures and I would never consider myself asthmatic, so would an inhaler allow me to run similar times regardless of temperature? If so then it is absolutely a performance enhancer. |
| 2009-08-20 10:59 AM in reply to: #2357581 |
| 70 | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? I lived with asthma for years until I started running. I attribute this lifestyle to allowing me to throw my inhalers and meds away. I haven't had an attack for over 10 years now and the last was about a year of 'casual running'. It's not cheating by any means. You are exercising which increases your health significantly. You are doing something you enjoy which also increases your health. The difference is before a bike race I have seen the majority of competitors take a hit of an inhaler...are they all asthmatic? Doubt it. Keep doing whatever you have to do to keep doing what you love and don't give it a second thought. If youre just an age grouper like most of us, what does it matter? |
| 2009-08-20 11:20 AM in reply to: #2360108 |
Elite 4048 Gilbert, Az. | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? tsprks - 2009-08-20 8:26 AM Forgive me for not knowing very much about asthma, but does heat affect it? If not then I would have to say in the case of the OP that his problems were related to the heat rather than anything else. He said that he was able to run the same on a 90 degree day as he could on a 70 degree day by using the inhaler. I can tell you from personal experience that I probably have over a minute per mile difference in my times with those 2 temperatures and I would never consider myself asthmatic, so would an inhaler allow me to run similar times regardless of temperature? If so then it is absolutely a performance enhancer. Not in the sense that you are thinking. My only attacks (2) have come when running in high heat in Arizona summers. The inhaler didn't let me run faster, it simply let me breathe. In a non asthmatic, yes, it can be considered a performance enhancer, and I am 100% positive that there are age groupers in all ranges of abilities that are using inhalers under a doctors prescription that don't really need it. The only "enhancement" that I've noticed is that I can breathe, I'm not gasping for every scrap of air. (Except last week in Colorado, but that was an altitude thing :D ) John |
| 2009-08-20 10:34 PM in reply to: #2357558 |
Veteran 294 Germantown, WI | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? I was diagnosed several years ago. The "normal" person can use 95-115% or so of their lung capacity. To be a true asthmatic you need to test out at ~80% or lower. In my case, if I don't have my daily doses of Advair, within 24 hours, I am down to ~68%. Bottom line is that inhalers allow true asthmatics to function at a "normal" level just like everyone else. Sure, if someone is "normal" at say 100% of lung function, then hits an inhaler and goes to 115%, they will realize performance improvement, but they are not an asthmatic and should not be allowed to use the inhaler. What is the rule on the medical exception? Do they have to show a pulmonary test justifying the use of the inhaler? If not, they should, but then again the cynic in me says that a doctor will make the numbers whatever they need to be as long as the checks cash. |
| 2009-08-20 10:52 PM in reply to: #2360308 |
| Lafayette, CO | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? tkd.teacher - 2009-08-20 10:20 AM tsprks - 2009-08-20 8:26 AM Forgive me for not knowing very much about asthma, but does heat affect it? If not then I would have to say in the case of the OP that his problems were related to the heat rather than anything else. He said that he was able to run the same on a 90 degree day as he could on a 70 degree day by using the inhaler. I can tell you from personal experience that I probably have over a minute per mile difference in my times with those 2 temperatures and I would never consider myself asthmatic, so would an inhaler allow me to run similar times regardless of temperature? If so then it is absolutely a performance enhancer. Not in the sense that you are thinking. My only attacks (2) have come when running in high heat in Arizona summers. The inhaler didn't let me run faster, it simply let me breathe. In a non asthmatic, yes, it can be considered a performance enhancer, and I am 100% positive that there are age groupers in all ranges of abilities that are using inhalers under a doctors prescription that don't really need it. The only "enhancement" that I've noticed is that I can breathe, I'm not gasping for every scrap of air. (Except last week in Colorado, but that was an altitude thing :D ) John WAIT just a minute! You were in Colorado and I didn't know?  You are one BTer I've really wanted to meet as you're always so helpful and encouraging. Next time you're here please speak up!As a EIA sufferer I'd like to give a little description of what a run feels like without an inhaler. Now, I'm not a very good runner at all but if I use my preventative inhaler before hand I can get though without thinking I'm going to suffocate. When I don't use it I gasp for every breath. It feels like my chest is tightening up and soon enough it will be so tight that no air will pass. It burns, it tightens, it hurts. And after a particularly bad bout it can feel tight and burn for hours afterwards. Asthma and exercise induced asthma are no joke and they have a real affect on the ability of an asthmatic to simply complete an event much less compete for podium |
| 2009-08-20 11:32 PM in reply to: #2361622 |
Elite 4048 Gilbert, Az. | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? COSkiGirl - 2009-08-20 8:52 PM tkd.teacher - 2009-08-20 10:20 AM tsprks - 2009-08-20 8:26 AM Forgive me for not knowing very much about asthma, but does heat affect it? If not then I would have to say in the case of the OP that his problems were related to the heat rather than anything else. He said that he was able to run the same on a 90 degree day as he could on a 70 degree day by using the inhaler. I can tell you from personal experience that I probably have over a minute per mile difference in my times with those 2 temperatures and I would never consider myself asthmatic, so would an inhaler allow me to run similar times regardless of temperature? If so then it is absolutely a performance enhancer. Not in the sense that you are thinking. My only attacks (2) have come when running in high heat in Arizona summers. The inhaler didn't let me run faster, it simply let me breathe. In a non asthmatic, yes, it can be considered a performance enhancer, and I am 100% positive that there are age groupers in all ranges of abilities that are using inhalers under a doctors prescription that don't really need it. The only "enhancement" that I've noticed is that I can breathe, I'm not gasping for every scrap of air. (Except last week in Colorado, but that was an altitude thing :D ) John WAIT just a minute! You were in Colorado and I didn't know? You are one BTer I've really wanted to meet as you're always so helpful and encouraging. Next time you're here please speak up!Ahem. I POSTED in the COLORADO forum on the RATTLESNAKE triathlon thread. :D John |
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