Exercise Asthma

[FoozGrind]

I was wondering if anyone who has exercise induced asthma could tell me what their symptoms are and how it differs from someone with regular asthma.... I have been mountain biking and exercising for over 3 years and my cardio/endurance has very very slowy gotten better compared to other riders of my skill and age for that matter. I am 27 years old male 5'10 200 pounds. When I am mountain biking for example after about 10 mins into the ride I get a tight ness feeling in my lower chest right below the sternum and it tends to make me slow down and not push as hard. After i stop riding it goes away but i am always coughing. I have had a stress test and echocardiogram and my heart is fine and at my doctors office i have blown into this machine and i was told my lung performance is fine. I have only recently looked up exercise induced asthma and i think this might be something i should bring up to my doctor. My biking friends have all told me its fine you dont ride enough we all had it you need to push through the pain but It squeezes my lower chest where i stop. This is a problem because i want to start racing and I cannot push as hard as i want.

[hava]

Do this breathing technique for 15 minutes before you ride the bike and come back with your feedback, after doing it for 7 days.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two middle fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed. Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
While doing anulom vilom, keep your eyes closed, concentrate on the third eye (point in between the eyebrows).

[David S. Wilson, MD, FCCP]

You very likely have exercise induced asthma...your physician can help you diagnose and treat this easily.  The normal simple lung function tests are typical in exercise induced asthma..the definitive test is called a Methacholine challenge test...alternatively, many pulmonary function labs can exercise you on a stationary cycle or treadmill and then repeat simple pulmonary funtions which are usually diagnostic