anybody use inhalers?

[tonguesOUT4life 17]

for asthma conditions ? how does it help your breathing on the ice?

[dangler16 0]

dont use it but coached several kids who do. They usually take it right before the game or practice. And they keep it on the bench just in case. does help them breath.

[dumbpolak9 1]

I used them when i was little, i did right be for i got onto the ice and it cleared up my throat it used to be Flemy before i took it and that feeling went away after

[yrhmblnr8r 69]

My Dr prescribed Albuterol after my last physical. I told her I weezed a bit after games. It felt like someone was pressing on my chest. I've been taking a couple puffs before and after and I don't have the chest pressure any more. I don't notice a significant difference during play, but I do breathe better on the way home.

[thehomez 0]

for asthma conditions ? how does it help your breathing on the ice?

A few comments as it sounds like you have or are refferring to sports induced asthma. First, cold air (ice hockey, skiing, winter, etc) is a known precipitant and trigger for asthma, therefore, if you don't have it during other activities and get it while on the ice, then that may be your trigger.

Second, you should see your physician to see if you do or do not have asthma as it can be a pretty serious condition and may continue to get worse if you don't seek care.

And finally, if you do have sports induced asthma, then as the others have said, it would help to take a couple of puffs prior to playing to help prevent any attacks. The main thing to remember with Albuterol however, is that the more you use it the less it will work for and help you down the line, called tachyphylaxis. Hope that helps!

[fedorov#91 0]

I have asthma, but i play roller so cold air doesnt really affect it. I usually skate around, do a few laps, hit a few pucks etc and will need it, take a few puffs then im usually fine for the whole game/training session. I ALWAYS carry one with me, cause mine can get quite bad sometimes. But after those first puffs, im fine.

My whole club has sorted started becoming very aware of asthma ever since last summer when a 13 yr old in our club died from an asthma attack.

[pantherfan 0]

I used to have it for competative swimming but have since left my prescriptions when it comes to hockey, I remember a few kids had theirs either with the coach or taped to their water bottle during games when I played junior. It's fairly common I would say.

[fawn111 0]

I had Athletic induced asthma from ages 12-16... eventually just outgrew it thank god....

I would use Provetal inhaler just before football practices..... I was fine for most of the practices... occasionally I would tighten up and the end during wind sprints... hated them....

Never had any problems since then until I started playing Ice hockey many years later.... I found that at the end of the session I would get very wheezy... not exactly full asthma just the early indications of it.. I bought one of those primitene inhalers... OTC form the pharmacy and that made it go away, but after a year or so, my lungs got used to the cold air and now I have no problems at all.

[Jarick 5]

The docs say I have sports asthma and gave me an albuterol inhaler, but it doesn't do a thing for me. Only time it ever made a difference was when I had really, really bad bronchitis and couldn't breathe in the middle of the night.

[nspeen 0]

The docs say I have sports asthma and gave me an albuterol inhaler, but it doesn't do a thing for me. Only time it ever made a difference was when I had really, really bad bronchitis and couldn't breathe in the middle of the night.

I found out i had this last summer but my albuterol makes a huge difference for me. I actually hate playing when i forget to take a few puffs before the skate.

[Jarick 5]

I'm the only person I know who hacks and coughs after games but gets no relief from the inhaler, which leads me to believe the docs are wrong about the sports asthma.

[thehomez 0]

I'm the only person I know who hacks and coughs after games but gets no relief from the inhaler, which leads me to believe the docs are wrong about the sports asthma.

Hey Jarick, you may have something called bronchiectasis. I would need to know more about your symptoms to have a better idea about it but if you look it up online you may kind of be able to figure it out on your own. Doesn't really sound likely but thought I'd throw it out there. Also, its def not it if you only have symptoms following hockey...

[stick9 891]

Asthma sufferer here.

Inhalers are refereed to as rescue inhalers. They aren't used to treat asthma, just help when the patient suffers an attack. For years I took my inhaler everywhere....never left my person. My doc said that wasn't controlling it very well. She put me on some other meds that help prevent attacks before they happen. Now, my inhaler never leaves my nightstand.

[Hooah4 12]

An albuterol inhaler will work the best if you are properly trained to use it correctly. Ideally you should try to get a spacer or holding chamber so that more of the medication enters your lungs and less impacts your mouth and oropharynx.

Albuterol has an initial onset of 5 minutes and then peaks at around 1/2 hour with a half life of 3 hours. Ideally if you are experiencing EIA use your inhaler as you are getting dressed at the rink. FWIW the air quality at many rinks is piss poor and between the cold air inhalation, Carbon Monoxide emissions from the zams, and mold/mildew buildup it's no suprise so many of us suffer from breathing problems at the rink.

And Jarick, one of the only ways to find out if you have bronchiectasis would be a bronchoscopy, not fun for sure. A sure tell sign if you are getting the meds is if you have side effects. If you notice any hand tremors, or nervousness, heart racing you can tell if you got the meds.

[jds 20]

I have had sports induced ashtma for decades. Started with the "rescue" inhalers and then my doc put me on a twice a day preventative medication and my inhaler hardly ever gets used. Cold air is an issue with me as well. One strategy that I read about and worked quite well for me when I was doing lots of distance running races was to sprint around prior to the race to actually induce an attack and then use the inhaler to clear it up. Apparently, after an attack has been cleared with the medication, the period before a repeat attack from the same activity is lengthened. Not sure about the science here but it worked like a charm and I never had to use my inhaler near the end of any half-marathon or triathlon again. Please be advised that I am NOT a doctor though. Although, if I was the gear I could afford.........

[thehomez 0]

I have had sports induced ashtma for decades. Started with the "rescue" inhalers and then my doc put me on a twice a day preventative medication and my inhaler hardly ever gets used. Cold air is an issue with me as well. One strategy that I read about and worked quite well for me when I was doing lots of distance running races was to sprint around prior to the race to actually induce an attack and then use the inhaler to clear it up. Apparently, after an attack has been cleared with the medication, the period before a repeat attack from the same activity is lengthened. Not sure about the science here but it worked like a charm and I never had to use my inhaler near the end of any half-marathon or triathlon again. Please be advised that I am NOT a doctor though. Although, if I was the gear I could afford.........

What you said is scientifically correct though may not hold true for everyone. The main factor here, as Hooah4 posted, is that albuterol has a half-life of aproximately 3 hours, so it should be fairly active for a few hours after use and this obviously depends on the severity of every individuals asthma. However, I would not recommend you self induce an attack ;)

[jds 20]

I suppose I should have mentioned that my asthma is not very severe and an "attack" usually consists of mild wheezing which, although it can really interfere with physical exertion, is not debilitating.

[vek 0]

I have exercise induced asthma (damn, I can never spell it, hopefully I lucked out this time) - which is I'm quite sure is exacerbated by the air quality in the rinks. When I play pond hockey, I never have as many issues as when playing on an indoor pad.

You might find certain rinks are bigger triggers than others, perhaps just due to the state of the ventilation in the building, and perhaps the level of emissions from the zamboni(s).