Hi! Couple of years ago when I went in to see a doctor for a cold, and after my peak flow was measured and a bunch of other breathing, long capacity, etc tests were done I was diagnosed with asthma and/or reactive airways disease (RAD). I know that my breathing issues are induced by bronchitis and when I get a cold it is very likely that it develops to pneumonia. Since the diagnosis, I have had couple of times that I got a cold and then my lugs just died and I had to get on steroidal and bronchodilator in hailers to for a while to recover.
I ride and race bikes (road) competitively. When I am going thru one of the episodes described above, I can tell that my breathing is pretty shallow and I don’t feel good on the bike. Only once I had an “asthma attack” and that was when I was racing in altitude and I think it was the combination of the altitude and not feeling 100% that triggered it then. My question is not about when I am sick or use the inhalers described above. It is for when I am feeling “good”: When I measure my peak flow, I can see that my peak flow is relatively low (400-450) for my age/height (24/5.9feet). I don’t use bronchodilators but when I do, I can see it increases my peak flow closer to “where it should be”. Is this affecting my riding and/or racing? If yes, how and why? Does anyone experience a similar problem and if yes, how do you deal with it?
I don’t use the meds often unless I really have to. I try not to get a cold and I am careful as to managing it since I know if can get ugly. I want to find out how this physiological problem is affecting my performance.
Thanks!
I ride and race bikes (road) competitively. When I am going thru one of the episodes described above, I can tell that my breathing is pretty shallow and I don’t feel good on the bike. Only once I had an “asthma attack” and that was when I was racing in altitude and I think it was the combination of the altitude and not feeling 100% that triggered it then. My question is not about when I am sick or use the inhalers described above. It is for when I am feeling “good”: When I measure my peak flow, I can see that my peak flow is relatively low (400-450) for my age/height (24/5.9feet). I don’t use bronchodilators but when I do, I can see it increases my peak flow closer to “where it should be”. Is this affecting my riding and/or racing? If yes, how and why? Does anyone experience a similar problem and if yes, how do you deal with it?
I don’t use the meds often unless I really have to. I try not to get a cold and I am careful as to managing it since I know if can get ugly. I want to find out how this physiological problem is affecting my performance.
Thanks!