Question:

Just wondering whether there is any connection between asthma and swimming. I’ve heard many times that swimming is supposed to *help* asthma, but my experience has been the opposite. Any thoughts? Bernie,  the benefit attributed to swimming for asthmata  goes back a long way, certainly ever since I can remember.  There have been all sorts of theories about this.  For example,  it was thought that the warm moist air over the water stops your airways drying out.  But experiments done in the laboratory with warm humid air ruled this out. Besides, it would imply that people don’t get asthma in the warm humid tropics.

Or heated swimming pools. Even humid laboratories. (circular argument) If you speak to experts, they don’t know why swimming is beneficial. They usually tell you it is beneficial for  some asthmatics, and  more beneficial than other exercises such as running.  Interestingly, the West Australian branch of the Asthma foundation actually sponsors swimming, and in particular a game called underwater hockey. The hyperventilation theory of asthma (the theory which proposes that all asthma is caused by chronic hyperventilation), tells us  not that swimming is good for some asthmatics, but that some types of swimming are good for asthma.   Those forms of swimming in which your head is under water and in which as a consequence you have to restrict your

Like breast stroke .. Samantha Riley breast stroke gold medalist and asthmatic! rate of  breathing,  should be of benefit.  So the Australian crawl (you might knwo this as the American Crawl)  is beneficial because you can’t breathe as much as you want.   Further, I know that some swimming educators are encouraging their squads to hold their breath first for two strokes, then three, then four…..  between breathing. Evidently they’ve learned of the benefit independently. And so it is that the hyperventilation theory of asthma can explain why the Asthma Foundation sponsors under water hockey, even if the Asthma Foundation itself can’t explain it.

Water Hockey is a sport requiring short fast action it therefore utilises the fast twitch muscles.. These muscles are anerobic ie. they do NOT use oxygen they use GLUCOSE for energy.  Respiration is therfore not so important in this sport. Bill. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Best wishes Peter Kolb Biomedical Engineer Free information provided by grateful ex-asthmatics     http://www.wt.com.au/~pkolb/buteyko.htm

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As a rule we encourage asthmatics to swim. sometimes the chlorine is irritating. Rinse the nose with saline afterwards. Sometimes there is a problem with getting chilled. Wet suit helps, esp a hood. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com

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Has anyone had a bad reaction to swimming?  I can’t go in our local pool because last summer I broke out in a bad case of hives and had asthma attacks for two weeks.  The doctor had to increase my does of Flovent and prescribe antihistamines.  It took quite a while for the hives to clear up.  The doctor was surprised that that would come from the pool and thought it might be from mold at the pool?  I have never had a problem around mold before.  What do you think caused this? Meghan Before you buy.

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Just wondering whether there is any connection between asthma and swimming. I’ve heard many times that swimming is supposed to *help* asthma, but my experience has been the opposite. Any thoughts? Bernie H

Response:

Just wondering whether there is any connection between asthma and swimming. I’ve heard many times that swimming is supposed to *help* asthma, but my experience has been the opposite. Any thoughts? Bernie H

A healthy life style including exercise is good. Swimming is often recommended as it exercises all the muscles. However if swimming in a chlorinated pool, the chlorine can act as an asthma trigger. Cold can be another trigger. And it could be dangerous in a large body of water if you have an asthma attack. Link: http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1998/06jun/dis_pa.htm Your Guide to Exercising With Asthma Excerpt: "The Exercise Plan  Exercise specifics. For full benefit, try to exercise for 20 to  30 minutes, four or five times a week, strenuously  enough to raise your heart rate to 60% to 85% of maximum.  (Your maximum heart rate is roughly equal to 220 minus your age.)  Choose an aerobic activity you find enjoyable; jogging, biking,  and swimming are all good. If steady activities  like these provoke symptoms despite precautions, substitute  sports that involve short bursts of intense  activity, like tennis, volleyball, or half-court basketball.  Take it easy. If you develop asthma symptoms during exercise,  don’t try to push your way through them.  Stop what you’re doing and take two more puffs from your  beta-agonist inhaler. If this doesn’t bring relief  within 15 to 20 minutes, seek medical help. " Ellis

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I found swimming good unless there was too much chlorine around from the pool; then my lungs would react negatively Andrew

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just wondering whether there is any connection between asthma and swimming. I’ve heard many times that swimming is supposed to *help* asthma, but my experience has been the opposite. Any thoughts? Bernie H

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Reactions to additives in the pool are certainly a possibility.  I have tried both heated chlorinated pools and heated salt/ozone treated pools with similar dissapointing results requiring beta agonist use always. Chlorine/salt reaction in my case is minimal however:- The benefits of otherwise warm clean humid air in my case, did nothing for the drying of small airways that my lungs are so sensitive.  These airways must be too deep down to benefit.  Moisture in heated pool air is mostly particulate rather than molecular for complex reasons related to dew point temperature and the presence of salt/chlorine condensation neuclei.  It is therefore filtered from the air by the lung during inspiration. IE. by deposition in the larger airways. This may benefit some as is evidenced by champion swimmers that are also asthmatic but not others that have a drier lung as is mine.  (dry unproductive cough typical.) Interestingly on occasions when a single smoker outside the full size 50m pool enclosure happened to be near an open door, this would cause plenty of problems for me while swimming. Evidence that particulates (smoke) attract condensation, become concentrated and gravitate to the surface. (smog) Bill. The slow expiration advocate!  ie. recycle your small airway moisture.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just wondering whether there is any connection between asthma and swimming. I’ve heard many times that swimming is supposed to *help* asthma, but my experience has been the opposite. Any thoughts? Bernie H

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Just wondering whether there is any connection between asthma and swimming. I’ve heard many times that swimming is supposed to *help* asthma, but my experience has been the opposite. Any thoughts?

Bernie,  the benefit attributed to swimming for asthmata  goes back a long way, certainly ever since I can remember.  There have been all sorts of theories about this.  For example,  it was thought that the warm moist air over the water stops your airways drying out.  But experiments done in the laboratory with warm humid air ruled this out. Besides, it would imply that people don’t get asthma in the warm humid tropics.     If you speak to experts, they don’t know why swimming is beneficial. They usually tell you it is beneficial for  some asthmatics, and  more beneficial than other exercises such as running.  Interestingly, the West Australian branch of the Asthma foundation actually sponsors swimming, and in particular a game called underwater hockey. The hyperventilation theory of asthma (the theory which proposes that all asthma is caused by chronic hyperventilation), tells us  not that swimming is good for some asthmatics, but that some types of swimming are good for asthma.   Those forms of swimming in which your head is under water and in which as a consequence you have to restrict your rate of  breathing,  should be of benefit.  So the Australian crawl (you might knwo this as the American Crawl)  is beneficial because you can’t breathe as much as you want.   Further, I know that some swimming educators are encouraging their squads to hold their breath first for two strokes, then three, then four…..  between breathing. Evidently they’ve learned of the benefit independently.   And so it is that the hyperventilation theory of asthma can explain why the Asthma Foundation sponsors under water hockey, even if the Asthma Foundation itself can’t explain it. Best wishes Peter Kolb Biomedical Engineer Free information provided by grateful ex-asthmatics     http://www.wt.com.au/~pkolb/buteyko.htm

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http://www.rph.wa.gov.au/patient/index.html http://www.wt.com.au/~pkolb/dinner.jpg The hyperventilation theory of asthma (the theory which proposes that all asthma is caused by chronic hyperventilation)

http://x66.deja.com/getdoc.xp?AN=648073818 THE REAL PETER KOLB "I’m going to give you the hyperventilation theory on this, which most of the people on this n.g. are completely ignorant of and will therefore decry." "Only once on this group has there been some attempt at presenting a scientific counter argument.  The rest is just blind bigoted opposition lead by amateur Doogie Howsers who have no concept of what science is all about." You would think that there was at least one intelligent person in the anti lobby.  I take that back there was an intelligent debate provided by one of the doctors, whose name I forgot, about three years ago.  But since then we’ve had nothing but drivvel like this uninformed garbage" "And another suggetion.  There are a number of ego-tripsters on this group who think asthma is a game.  They are just totaly irresponsible and will provide inane commentary for their own  amusement.

There’s an  a.s.a. Mafia who’ll stop at nothing to prevent you saying what they don’t like.   Unfortuantely they’re by and large not particularly bright so you can’t reason with them.  I see them as a kindergarten full of kids mimicking adults but having absolutely no understanding.   They just issue decrees and try to intimidate you. I think a lot of them would have liked to have been doctors but just don’t have the brains.  It’s a bit like being attacked by a pack of barking dogs.

I don’t know if all of USENET or  only alt.support.asthma features these pompous, self righteous, arrogant,  bigoted, narrow minded, intellectual neanderthals, but they’re a real pain because they stifle open discussion.

I’ve been involved in the alt.support.asthma news group on and off.  For those of you not familiar with a.s.a. I should say that it is a news group dominated  by juvenile delinquents with a self esteem problem. New FAQ comin’ LCBPKBBC Information in Peter Kolb’s FAQ provided by           grateful asthmatics http://x58.deja.com/getdoc.xp?AN=630546788

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