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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suffer From Asthma. Using Inhaler. Need To Lead An Active Lifestyle. Options?

I have asthma and I am wanting to work out to lose weight, but it feels like i cant get enough air. My asthma comes in intervals so it is not always a huge problem. But i have really bad alergies and everytime they start acting up (which is once or twice a year) so does my asthma and it puts me out of doing any kind of activity (including something as simple as stairs) for at least 3 months without feeling like i cant breathe. I take breathing treatments and and inhaler . Is there something else i can do to help me have a more active lifestyle with asthma?
Sat, 23 Feb 2013
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Pediatrician 's  Response
Hi, thanks for your query. Well done for trying to lose weight. I understand that it is hard to do when you are unwell. Don't be discouraged by the periods during which your allergies and asthma flare up. Since you seem to have noticed a seasonal pattern to you asthma and allergy episodes I suggest preparing for them by:

1. Taking a long acting antihistamine (eg citirizine) two weeks before and during the three months that things flare up.

2. Escalating your asthma treatment during these periods so you are on more preventers. Ask your doctors to review your medication. You may benefit from an increased dose of inhaled steroids, a long acting beta agonist inhaler or something like daily Singulair.

These two changes should be able to keep you breathing comfortably and active. To get the most from the exercise you are doing, review your diet so it is healthy and also not aggravating your allergies and consider taking up a wind instrument to increase you lung capacity.

If you have been on asthma steroid treatment for long you should ask you doctor to check for adrenal suppression. This is a side effect of prolonged steroid use which could be contributing to you weight problem.
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Suffer From Asthma. Using Inhaler. Need To Lead An Active Lifestyle. Options?

Hi, thanks for your query. Well done for trying to lose weight. I understand that it is hard to do when you are unwell. Don t be discouraged by the periods during which your allergies and asthma flare up. Since you seem to have noticed a seasonal pattern to you asthma and allergy episodes I suggest preparing for them by: 1. Taking a long acting antihistamine (eg citirizine) two weeks before and during the three months that things flare up. 2. Escalating your asthma treatment during these periods so you are on more preventers. Ask your doctors to review your medication. You may benefit from an increased dose of inhaled steroids, a long acting beta agonist inhaler or something like daily Singulair. These two changes should be able to keep you breathing comfortably and active. To get the most from the exercise you are doing, review your diet so it is healthy and also not aggravating your allergies and consider taking up a wind instrument to increase you lung capacity. If you have been on asthma steroid treatment for long you should ask you doctor to check for adrenal suppression. This is a side effect of prolonged steroid use which could be contributing to you weight problem.