Commuting with Asthma

[andylaw79]

New to the forum so Hi to everyone.

Been commuting by bike for the past couple of months and the fitness in slowly getting better. Ran into a problem last night on the way home. Wind direction was SE, not too strong but really warm and dry which just seemed to sap all my energy and tighten my chest. Didn't need to stop but had to have a quick blast on my inhaler when I got home. Any one else encountered this problem?

 

[AdamBlade]

Hi Andy,

Like you I'm asthmatic and have noticed that the air quality hasn't been as good recently. I guess it is the change in weather. Usually a quick blast on my inhaler helps somewhere along my route.

I have noticed that I don't seem to be using my inhaler half as much now since I started cycling

 

[andylaw79]

I'm the same Adam, not using it half as much as I used too but last night I felt like I did when I first started. Going to be the same on the way home tonight so I'll think I'll take it a bit easier.

 

[monkeyjo]

I haven't considered myself asthmatic for about 8 years now, but since the temperature's gone up I've found myself wheezing a lot by the time i get home.

I've been commuting through London traffic for almost 10 months with no problems, but the hot weather just makes the pollution even worse I guess. I'm considering finding a new route that avoids some of the busier roads, but that's a difficult thing to do in London.

 

[goo_mason]

I don't have asthma, but it felt very warm and humid here last night, and after I cycled home I spent the evening coughing and hacking and feeling like I had a cold coming on.

I was fine by the time I got up this morning, and no problems once I got to work either (probably because the traffic's light at 6.00am).

I'm interested to see if I experience the same thing again tonight, as it's just as warm. I do suspect that the pollution and the weather are making the air quality worse.

 

[trj977]

Hi Andy

I was diagnosed with adult asthma a good few years ago. To my knowledge never had a proper attack but did get very wheezy. This has improved no end since getting back on a bike. Doctors advice was to take a blast before I set out if I felt I was likely to encounter a problem. Funy thing is that over the last couple of years I have developed a sort of sixth sense and rarely get caught out.

 

[hackbike 6]

I havent had asthma but suffered with bronchitis after having radiotheraphy in the mid 90's.it scared the hell out of me making me either give up cycling or smoking in dec 1999.

 

[sjb]

Doctors advice was to take a blast before I set out if I felt I was likely to encounter a problem.

Good advice! I've had asthma since birth and this works - prevention better than cure etc etc

Exercise makes a huge difference, if I slacken off on the cycling and squash I find I have to use the inhaler more.

Interestingly the asthma nurse who collared me for an assessment last year was horrified when I told her I cycle commuted because of the "poor air quality" issues - I asked her why she thought it was worse to get exercise rather than sit in the car and get fatter and less fit - she didn't really have an answer, it was just her gut reaction.

I think a lot of people get into the mindset of "I'm an asthmatic" and let it define who they are and what they do, rather than treat it as just something that you have to manage. The healthcare profession (or at least the ones I've come across) seem to promote this view and are over cautious....

 

[Trillian]

i've not struggled for a while, i have found that dropping a gear and keeping my legs spinning at a comfortable pace, using the gears to allow them to keep that pace and increasing / decreacing the speed of the bike instead of my pedaling speed often helps when facing a headwind.