Exercise Induced Asthma or Just out of shape???

Hi, Im a 19 yr old girl and im wondering if breathing difficulties i have during exercise/sports is caused by EIA or if im just out of shape. Im not super lazy or anything (i dont sit around and watch tv a ton lol) and i do have a full-time job where im on my feet for most of the day.

Yesterday i was playing a little bit of basketball with a friend (we couldnt have been playing for more then 10 minutes) and he made me stop cus he said i was scaring him by my breathing. We were playing hard and he said i wa breathing so hard and deeply he thought i was gonna pass out.

When i do activities like basketball, skateboarding or biking, running, etc, after a short while my chest will start to hurt, it'll be harder to breathe and ill get all congested feeling in my chest and cough. Usually when i push myself to keep going, ill end up hacking away, coughing a lot and stuff. Im kinda used to it so i usually just keep going and ignore it all, but i've had a few times where i feel like im gonna choke or pass out. Sometimes it with feel like my chest is really tight and it will hurt a lil.

I actually didnt even know about EIA until yesterday, and im wondering if thats maybe what i have. I would like to go to a doctor to get checked, but i dont want to go if im just REALLY out of shape and waste money. Keep in mind im not overweight..im 5.5 1/2 feet tall and about 128 pounds.

My 'symptoms' after i stop whatever activity it is im doing can last a while afterwards...ill sometimes still be panting or trying to catch my breath after 5 minutes or so of rest, and my congestion and coughing can last for several hours afterwards.

btw..can getting congested and coughing from laughing be any related symptom?

[Tammy2009]

It might be, I would get pulmonary function tests done during exercise just to know for sure.  Otherwise, improve your diet and increase exercise once you get the all clear from your doctor.

[f8th]

see thing is, i dont wanna go to the doc just out of a 'maybe' ...im thinking i should try getting in shape first? how long would u say it takes to get relatively fit?

Im trying to remember how active ive been several years ago, cus i remeber still having the coughing problem like, two years ago. And that was when i went biking several times a week.

[Tammy2009]

Everytime you go to the doctor is a "maybe" because you don't know something for sure until testing is done.  

The problem is that if it is EIA, increased exercise has the potential to increase the severity of attacks and you don't have the proper medication to stop them.  There is always the chance that you could have a severe attack and be unable to breathe either away from any help or severe enough that you pass out before help can get there and you could die from lack of oxygen ...

Since you are asking questions on this site and think there may be a problem, that is more than enough to warrant a doctor visit :).  I hate doctors too but something you just have to bite the bullet and go.  The minimum they may do is give you a ventolin inhaler to see if it helps the symptoms, this would give you something to have in case one time there is a severe attack.  Asthma is not something to monkey around, it can be mild for months and out of the blue a severe attack that can be fatal or near-fatal.  

Hoping this info helped, let us know what your doctor says

[bsmsl]

Hello and welcome to the community.

Here is my take on your initial post - asthma is highly probable.  The reason I say that is the congestion.  Being out of shape won't cause lung congestion, but asthmatic inflamation (inflammation) will.  I strongly recommend that you see your doctor about this very soon.  I actually think that you probably have plain old asthma, but only feel it when involved in rigorous activity.  

My two cents.

Feel better and please keep us updated on what your doctor says.

God bless.

[f8th]

Okay thanks guys, I will be going to a doctor sometime soon hopefully.

just fyi,  I went and played some basketball (mostly just shoot some hoops) and skateboarding and took notice of how i felt. I didnt push too hard, but after running up and down the court a few times i did start getting that tight chest feeling. several minutes of rest i would physically feel alright (my body wasnt tired at all or anything) but i still had the tight chest and my breathing although not panting anymore was still a bit weak or shallow feeling. After i stopped and went home, it took an hour for my chest to stop feeling bad and for most of my coughing to stop.

Soooo....ya, that was a 'take it easy' day or exercise lol

[bsmsl]

Hello,

I was just wondering how you are feeling and if you have seen a doctor yet.

Take care.

[f8th]

naaw i havent seen a doctor yet. Im kinda like, meh maybe im over exaggerating and nothing is wrong with me. i dunno, i dont wanna be a hypocondriac :P though i did have a week bout two weeks ago where i had this cough..im assuming i just had a cold or something.

[bsmsl]

I will tell you what my doctor told my husband (who called me a hypochondriac) and myself.  "No, you are not a hypochondriac.  Mucous production can't be forced."  

You produce a lot of mucous.  The only cause of mucous in inflammation.  You have a very REAL health condition that needs attention.  Tend to it.  

God bless.