Asthma question

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Anymouse

New Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2004
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I apologize, but I've got a medical question. If anyone feels generous, would you mind throwing out some thoughts?

I work in an active job that requires me to maintain a certain fitness level. They recently started requiring a one and a half mile run. I don't normally run, because I'm extremely bad at it. This year it took me about 4 months of running 3 times a week to be able to run this distance in 12-13 minutes. Speaking with coworkers it seems like they find it much easier.

What I'm wondering is whether I'm a wimp or if there is some underlying cause? I'm built fairly tall and thin. I'm in my early thirties. I don't have any real problems breathing normally nor at night. When I exercise, particularly in the cold, I produce a lot of mucous. I can jog for awhile, get tired, walk a little, then I'm completely recovered and can jog again with no real trouble. When I was a child I used to wake up unable to breathe. This only happened three or four times ever, but it felt like my throat was closed up and I couldn't draw in air.

My physical requirements prohibit asthma, which is why I'm asking here. I appreciate any thoughts or any suggestions on how I could get a solid diagnosis without going through my work health care. I know if it is asthma it is the mildest form possible, but I'd like to know in case I can make exercise easier by taking some OTC inhaler.

Thanks!
 
Asthma is hardly ever a "solid" diagnosis, usually a clinical one, where one describes periods of no symptoms and then shortness of breath, wheezing, or cough triggered by cold air, exercise, allergies, infections etc..... To get a solid diagnosis you should have Pulmonary function tests which show reversability of your "obstruction" with albuterol inhaled. The trouble is that the test really only works while you are symptomatic, so the other way to get the diagnosis is we induce an asthma attack with methacholine, and try and show reversability with the albuterol. Like I said it is mostly a clinical diagnosis, try the poor mans pulmonary function test by huffing some albuterol prior to your next run. There are other meds for cold air induced asthma like cromolyn but try the albuterol first.

Good luck military guy
 
Anymouse said:
I apologize, but I've got a medical question. If anyone feels generous, would you mind throwing out some thoughts?

I work in an active job that requires me to maintain a certain fitness level. They recently started requiring a one and a half mile run. I don't normally run, because I'm extremely bad at it. This year it took me about 4 months of running 3 times a week to be able to run this distance in 12-13 minutes. Speaking with coworkers it seems like they find it much easier.

What I'm wondering is whether I'm a wimp or if there is some underlying cause? I'm built fairly tall and thin. I'm in my early thirties. I don't have any real problems breathing normally nor at night. When I exercise, particularly in the cold, I produce a lot of mucous. I can jog for awhile, get tired, walk a little, then I'm completely recovered and can jog again with no real trouble. When I was a child I used to wake up unable to breathe. This only happened three or four times ever, but it felt like my throat was closed up and I couldn't draw in air.

My physical requirements prohibit asthma, which is why I'm asking here. I appreciate any thoughts or any suggestions on how I could get a solid diagnosis without going through my work health care. I know if it is asthma it is the mildest form possible, but I'd like to know in case I can make exercise easier by taking some OTC inhaler.

Thanks!


Go to a prvt. medical office, and leave place of employment and SS# blank. I have seen people use a fake name, if they are paying cash.
This a truly up to you and your mind set. You want to be safe on your job, and if your in the armed forces, I would not mess around with that!
 
Top