(SERIOUS I NEED HELP)Trouble Breathing durring workouts

[onlyone777]

Ok, so i have finally gotten back on track with my workouts since my surgery. Everything was going great for the most part. Within the past few weeks I have noticed my breathing getting really disrupted. I cant seem to catch my breath after every set. It gets me really dizzy and tired. This is really getting on my nerves because it gets so bad I cant finish a workout the way I want to. Any help on what I can do about it???

BTW I have tried inhailers but im not really sure they are doing much. Besides they get me really weak and shakey.

[femcuffs]

First off, what did you have surgery for? Do you have a heart condition? Blood pressure problems?

[nakedpagan]

what type of inhaler are you using?
Dr. Prescribed?
If it's just stuff off the shelf I doubt it would be helpful.
Ever had a asthma test?

I have sport induced asthma thats too low to call for an inhaler.. that was the dr's opinion not mine.. especially when i'm gasping and I feel like i'm having a heart attack my chest and lungs hurt so bad.

And agree, what was the surgery for, and any other health problems? Noticed if certain exercises are causing it?
Not really a lot of info on your page so can't go off of any of that.

[marilynny]

lots of people hold their breath when they exert themselves. you need to focus really hard on your breathing through your set. consciously think about it. i have pretty bad asthma and every time i do cardio i have to think "in the nose out the mouth" in my running/cycling cadence to keep my breathing right. i know what footstrokes my inhales and exhales need to be. same with lifting - i breathe in steadily through my nose the entire negative part of the movement and breathe out hard through the mouth the ENTIRE positive movement. taking yoga and learning ayurvedic breathing has greatly helped me control my breath.

inhalers won't do anything if you aren't breathing properly as you train, they are only made to open up blocked airways. if you aren't having a true asthma attack they won't work. but if you are, even over the counter will work perfectly fine. IF you use them correctly - if you don't use them the right way you just get an icky taste in your mouth.

[onlyone777]

the surgery was on my shoulder. nothing big. just tightning up the joint. i dont have any other medical problems, no high blood pressure or anything. so this is something really strange. my doctor said its proubably sports induced asthema so she perscribed me and inhailer. i had an asthema test a few years ago and nothin came up but its gotten worse since then.

ive really been trying to control my breathing, but i dont really think its that. my mom is a nurse and she thinks that naturaly i just dont take in enough oxygen. but the thing is that it gets so much worse when im lifting.

what happens is my head starts to hurt and feel really heavy and dizzy. then every time i take a breath in i feel like my ears get all cloged and my hearing gets messed up. so i yawn a bunch of times and try to catch my breath. finally when i do, i do another set and it just happens again. no matter how much i concentrate on my breathing.

[freebirdmac]

the surgery was on my shoulder. nothing big. just tightning up the joint. i dont have any other medical problems, no high blood pressure or anything. so this is something really strange. my doctor said its proubably sports induced asthema so she perscribed me and inhailer. i had an asthema test a few years ago and nothin came up but its gotten worse since then.

ive really been trying to control my breathing, but i dont really think its that. my mom is a nurse and she thinks that naturaly i just dont take in enough oxygen. but the thing is that it gets so much worse when im lifting.

what happens is my head starts to hurt and feel really heavy and dizzy. then every time i take a breath in i feel like my ears get all cloged and my hearing gets messed up. so i yawn a bunch of times and try to catch my breath. finally when i do, i do another set and it just happens again. no matter how much i concentrate on my breathing.

Everything you describe fits breathing improperly to a tee. If you don't think it's that then you won't focus on how you are breathing consistently. Once you hold your breath and get the symptoms they will stay with you for awhile. If you have any sinus issues that impacts how much air you can take in through your nose, that will also affect you. Some people do better breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. I do better on heavier exercises breathing in and out through the mouth. Don't discount the breathing. Make a point to focus on it during each entire set.

Another thing to pay attention to is what you are doing with your abdominal muscles during your sets. If you are really tightening them up you can restrict blood flow and that can result in similar symptoms. While you need that core tightness during compound exercises like squats, you don't need to go overboard on other exercises. I have to watch this myself on Smith leg presses. During a set I have to consciously relax my core and focus on my legs or I can feel my head getting heavier.

[SeaJules]

Hubby is very supportive (so far) of my training. Only problem is he brings me bacon, turkey, cheese, ham sammiches.

[onlyone777]

ok so i went to the doctor 2day and now i have to go get one of those breathing tests. he thinks its just sports induced asthema. but that still sux.. thankz for your help tho.

[parsnip1965]

If your heart, blood pressure, lungs etc. check out medically and you have sports induced asthma that doesn't respond to an inhaler, try the breathing techniques described by freebirdmac. I have high blood pressure and follow the breathing techniques religiously, and they cut down on or almost completely eliminate any cardiopulmonary distress.

Anyway, it can't hurt to breathe properly and your workouts will be more effective.

But I was thinking of something else....how's your nutrition? If you running on empty (very low caloric intake) during a workout, that might produce dizziness and other symptoms such as you describe.

[Veinlover]

I do exactly what people are suggesting, with the same result you are experiencing. You need to be very conscious of your breathing during your set, or you might just hold your breath during the entire set, and then, no surprise, you will be out of breath after!

[onlyone777]

I tried to really concentrate on my breathing the last few times I worked out and it worked really well. Ill admit, it was a little anoying paying so much attention to it, but it was worth it. I was able to run for a good 40 min without feeling anything and lifting was back to normal. Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate it.

[freebirdmac]

Good for you! After probably a short time you will be so accustomed to breathing correctly that you won't have to think about it anymore. Glad it worked!

[Veinlover]

All life's problems should be so easily solved!!!
:0

[littleblondy]

For all you ladies that use inhaler I would suggest using a spacer so that you get more of the meds into your lungs. Here is a link so you can take a look at what they are and how they work; I think that they are very helpful with inhalers.

http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/treatments/devices/metered/mdi-spacer.aspx

[wide lats]

For all you ladies that use inhaler I would suggest using a spacer so that you get more of the meds into your lungs. Here is a link so you can take a look at what they are and how they work; I think that they are very helpful with inhalers.

http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/treatments/devices/metered/mdi-spacer.aspx

Good, i just take a deep breath and take 4 or 5 blasts on the inhaler, same thing.

About spiro problems, if its a problem your doc knows nothing about there is another problem which you probably will not have heard of, called sick building syndrome, the mold/fungus spores from old buildings can be breathed in and they give a stuffy nose, cold and flu symptoms, hard to get enough air in the lungs, dizzyness, panic attacks, tiredness, headaches list goes on, the mold looks like milldew on ciellings and walls and can grow inside plaster it can be hard to detect - i have spoke to some so called doctors and they insist this sick building syndrome is a psychological problem and no such syndrome exists, however, i have had the symptoms myself in my life and i know damn well they exist its very real, if you are allergic to the spores etc you will get the symptoms, it could be Black Mold in your workplace or house.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/02/990208071455.htm

[littleblondy]

Good, i just take a deep breath and take 4 or 5 blasts on the inhaler, same thing.

About spiro problems, if its a problem your doc knows nothing about there is another problem which you probably will not have heard of, called sick building syndrome, the mold/fungus spores from old buildings can be breathed in and they give a stuffy nose, cold and flu symptoms, hard to get enough air in the lungs, dizzyness, panic attacks, tiredness, headaches list goes on, the mold looks like milldew on ciellings and walls and can grow inside plaster it can be hard to detect - i have spoke to some so called doctors and they insist this sick building syndrome is a psychological problem and no such syndrome exists, however, i have had the symptoms myself in my life and i know damn well they exist its very real, if you are allergic to the spores etc you will get the symptoms, it could be Black Mold in your workplace or house.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/02/990208071455.htm


No it really isn't the same thing to take a deep breath and 4-5 puffs of your inhaler, using a spacer helps get more of the drug into the lungs to help with bronchospasm and help dilate your bronchi. Also about exercised induced asthma you should only start to fell the symptoms, about 10mins after starting your workout that is how long it takes to irritate the airways. From what you have said in past posts it sounds like exercised induced asthma and taking your inhaler before starting your workout should help, and also maybe a decongested to help with the ear problem. Let me know if it helps, or if you have anymore questions I am a respiratory therapist, I hope i can help.

Mold would give you some symptoms like the short of breath and having a tight chest. But with mold and things of that nature people will be sick all the time like colds and sinus infections. The thing you can do for that is stay at someone else house for about a week and see if you get better, if you do then there is something in you home that is making you sick.