Running with asthma... anyone else deal with this?

I think this (if there isn't already a thread for it) deserves its own space outside the main Running section.
I'm 18, I have asthma, and I really want to get into running. My type of asthma isn't triggered by dust or pollen—it’s specifically exercise-induced... 😢
Some people tell me I don't stand a chance at running with asthma, but honestly, I think I'd love it. I've got some... let's call it "trauma" from running back in elementary school. I literally felt like I was dying after just two laps, but I don't think it's right to spend my whole life avoiding being active just because of my lungs.
Are there any runners here dealing with asthma? Any specific meds you guys recommend and stuff?
Give me some encouragement please! 🙂

Also... here's what's actually worrying me:
If I take the meds and run, I'll be fit, healthy, and lean🙂, but there's a catch: the asthma meds are corticosteroids (at least the ones I know of), and I'm worried about them messing with my heart... does anyone recommend anything that isn't a corticosteroid?
If I DON'T take the meds, I can't run, so I end up feeling sluggish and out of shape, which puts me at risk for things like osteoporosis down the road, even if my heart stays healthier.

It's a total Catch-22, or whatever you call it.😁

I’ve dealt with quite a bit of asthma and bronchitis myself, so I know how it goes. My sister actually has asthma too, but she doesn't deal with allergies the way you do👎. She uses a corticosteroid along with Flonase... and honestly, she's a serious athlete who does kickboxing and gets incredible results🤣 in her competitive circuit—she's even a two-time world runner-up in two different categories. Because of that, I really believe that running or any kind of exercise won't hurt you; if anything, it helps, as long as you keep up with your medication whether you're training or not until things settle down🙂

Growing up, I struggled constantly with allergic bronchitis😠 and always had to rely on Ventolin, whether it was the syrup, pills, or an inhaler. Just like you, I used to have such a hard time with running or anything that pushed my heart rate up. But I didn't let that stop me; I just took it slow, and little by little, I started seeing progress despite all those scary childhood memories—you know, that feeling when you run out of breath and almost pass out during gym class... I just learned to adjust my pace to what my body could handle at the time. Once I hit my late teens and my immune system finally stabilized, the issues mostly cleared up, though I did go through allergy shots as well. Please don't give up, because staying active is good for you, and make sure to stick to whatever your doctor prescribes, because they really do know what they're doing
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Before my sister started on corticosteroids, her doctors ran a bunch of tests like an echocardiogram and an EEG just to be safe, and they confirmed it wouldn't do her any harm, especially since she stays so active. There are definitely times during training when she struggles to catch her breath, but she just stops, calms herself down, and then gets back to it, usually with a bit more supervision from her coach than the other athletes at the gym
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So, hang in there and just keep moving forward

Ugh, I know exactly how frustrating that feels. Honestly, my advice would be to take it slow—just ease into it by mixing in some light jogging with plenty of walking intervals. And make sure you hit your Ventolin dose right before you start any physical exertion; that was a total game-changer for me. Lately, things have actually improved so much that I don't even find myself needing the inhaler before a workout anymore. 👍

It seems like there are quite a few of us—especially when you combine childhood asthma with whatever they drilled into our heads back in elementary school 😢.

I didn't actually start running until I was nearly 30... mostly because I was convinced it just wasn't in my DNA, thanks to what teachers told me back in the day 😠. It’s not even true asthma anymore, really—just the lingering effects of allergies and bronchitis from when I was a kid... so my chest starts wheezing if I pick up too much pace or if it's freezing outside (thank God for Albuterol). A heart rate monitor has been a lifesaver, though—it keeps me incredibly slow since my heart tends to race way faster than the average person's. I run at a crawl, mix in some walking, and make sure I don't cross that specific line that triggers an attack.

The only thing that truly gets under my skin is when people throw out those "pick up the pace" comments 😢.

Good luck and keep pushing 👋.

northerntiger9 said:uh, looks like there are plenty of us out there, especially when you combine asthma with those traumatic PE classes back in middle school 😢

I didn't actually get into running until I was pretty late... like, almost 30, because I was totally convinced I just couldn't do it, mostly because my teachers in elementary school made me feel that way. 😠 I don't really have "true" asthma anymore, more like the lingering aftermath of childhood allergies and bronchitis... so my chest starts wheezing if I push the pace too hard or if it's freezing outside (which is why I keep my Ventolin handy).

Sorry, but from what I understand about asthma, it sounds like you still actually have it. It’s basically incurable.
And that wheezing during exercise or in cold air? That's a textbook asthma symptom.
I know because I have people around me who deal with it.
As for physical activity, from what I've read, being an asthmatic doesn't mean you have to sit on the sidelines. There are plenty of great examples out there. 👍

Carol Parker said:Look, based on what I know about asthma, it sounds like you're still dealing with it—it’s basically incurable.
The wheezing during exercise or when hitting cold air? That’s textbook asthma.

I'm aware it's a classic symptom—but I was actually pointing out that mine isn't the standard kind; it's specifically triggered by activity. I don't take any daily meds, though I do keep a Ventolin handy just in case... wouldn't want to be caught off guard.😢

northerntiger9 said:Yeah, I get it—that’s a textbook asthma symptom. But what I was trying to get at is that mine isn't really the standard kind; it's more the type triggered by "activity." I don't actually take any daily meds or anything, though I always keep an inhaler on me just in case... you know, for emergencies. 😢

Aha, okay, fair enough.
🙂

Something just crossed my mind—though I have a feeling I’m just talking to myself here 😢

Group runs just aren't my thing... there is zero chance of me running and chatting at the same time, and I can't stand it when someone else dictates my pace. It's much more efficient for me to find my own rhythm—syncing my breathing until it stays steady and consistent. I just focus on that, which lets me settle into a groove for the long haul and actually knock out a solid hour-long run

You aren't just talking to yourself 😉
Honestly, running in a group isn't my vibe either. I lose my confidence way too fast when everyone else sets a pace I can't keep up with. Plus, I've heard it’s actually better for you—healthier and more efficient—to just slow it down and fly solo 🙂
I guess I’m still just a little self-conscious about running by myself sometimes 🙂
The other day I was out for a run near my place in Phoenix, and this group of guys in their early 20s passed me and started messing around and making jokes. I had my MP3 player on so I didn't catch exactly what they said, but man, it really stung. I know I shouldn't let stuff like that get to me, though.

coastalpilot14 said:I was out for a run near my place the other day when a group of twenty-somethings passed by—just a bunch of guys—and started making comments at me. I had my MP3 player on, so I didn't catch exactly what they said, but it still stung—which is something I know I really shouldn't let happen.

People love to throw shade my way, too—it’s practically a hobby for them. 😢 "Come on, hurry up!" Seriously—if one more person says that to me, they’re getting a fifteen-minute crash course on asthma, breathing techniques, heart rate monitors, and actual training methods. 😬

Don't let them get to you—just ignore the noise. It’s easy to throw shade from the sidelines, but it takes actual backbone to stay focused and give it everything you've got.

I actually beat my own personal best yesterday—hit the road for a long ride. 3.7 miles Under an hour—roughly 59 minutes. 😂 My speed is actually pretty enviable—and honestly, it’s a little unsettling. Three years ago, I couldn't have made it through a hundred-meter dash without losing my breath.

I’ve been fighting asthma since I was twelve years old using basically every med out there—Serevent, Flovent, Advair, Albuterol... you name it, I tried it, and honestly, my asthma just kept getting worse every single year.
Then about three years ago, I started this routine of drinking green tea and hitting the trails up at Mount Rainier twice a week. I can't say for sure which part of that combo actually did the heavy lifting, but I don't have asthma anymore—like, my doctor actually confirmed it! I’d probably bet money that the green tea was the real game changer, though I'm also pretty certain I wouldn't have pulled this off without the exercise. For the first month, I was basically taking my Advair + Albuterol before and after every hike, but eventually, I started tapering off the meds, and after a year, I didn't need anything at all. Lately, I’ve even taken up running, and I can knock out 10+ miles without any issues whatsoever.

Look, I know you can't just ditch your meds cold turkey, but don't fall for that nonsense that you have to take them every single day or everything will go downhill, because that’s exactly why things were going south for me. I know this sounds totally wild, but I truly believe green tea works for asthma—and I mean the real stuff, loose leaf, not those cheap little tea bags—and you gotta drink like 3 or 4 cups a day. Plus, an extra perk is that you'll basically stop catching every cold that goes around. :-)