I was just wondering if there are any asthmatic hikers out there and if they find the asthma terribly difficult to deal with - or how do they deal with it.
seagrass
Asthmatic Hikers
system
#2
Moving slowly is the only thing that works for me. Ventolin and such don’t seem to improve my breathing out there. If possible, avoid areas where the air quality is poor for obvious reasons. I hiked the JMT this past summer, and we were about 75 miles away from some big fires toward the end. I was wheezing a bit, so slowed down even more, and that helped get me thought it.
Hope this helps - good luck.
Lisa
system
#3
I have asthma and several allergies to outdoor things such as pine trees, pollen and all that. I take an allergy medicine and take my inhaler with me. When I hiked in 2004 I used it a total of about 3 times and that was once when I got stung by a bee(I am allergic to them also!) and the other two times were when I was hiking a huge mountain and when I was in a pine tree situation. All of these times were at the begining of my hike. For some reason I got less and less dependent on the allergy medicine as I hiked and the uphills didn’t bother me as much after I got used to the hiking and got in aerobic shape. I still carried the inhaler but didn’t use it after that.Slow and ssteady does help.
Happy hiking!
Nancy
system
#4
I carry the Abuterol, have rarely had to use it. Take the Allegra D twice a day, and absolutly no issues! (excpet for the Poison Ivy, does anybody REALLY know what the stuff looks like!!!).
moonman
system
#5
I have what is considered a mild form of Asthma, although I did experienced a couple of attacks where once I had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. (This wouldn’t been neccessary if I had the Albuterol Inhaler).
My Asthma affects me when there is a change in the weather, when the front goes through bringing dry conditions or wet conditions, both bring airborne pollutents that causes me to wheeze a bit, but when it stays wet (say it rains a few days) I feel great! and thats probably due to the immediate pollution in the air being washed down to the ground.
As far as hiking no problem. Like the comments before me, listen to you’re body and slow down when wheezing occurs.
I always carry the Albuterol just in case and there are times I’ve used it. The morning before the hike if I feel my chest a little tight, I take a couple of puffs and usually I’m good for the rest of the day, and there are other times when I don’t need it.
I also take 10 mg of Singular and a puff a day of the Advair, I notice a difference with the Advair it definitely helps the breathing.
Lots of Luck and Happy Trails
Pete Ricci
system
#6
I just got back from day hiking at Grand Canyon. On the way back up the bright angel trail I had a wicked asthma attack which wouldn’t break with albuterol. I later realized that it was probably induced by aerosolized dry mule dung. I had no trouble on the south kaibab trail which has much less dung.
Mitch