Why has my cheat always felt like this after exercising?

[Iwanttoredecorateagain]

When i increase my HR and push myself a little bit further I've always had that feeling like im out of breath and my chest will explode. Its can be a bit painful. Like it's the tubes to my lungs are inflammed.

I've had this feeling since primary school and a reason i hate running. Im great at quick runs or sprinting but the feeling eases several minutes after resting.

It feels more like a burning. I'm half way into a 6 week couch to 5k plan. Is this a barrier i have to break?

[Iwanttoredecorateagain]

Oh god i meant chest

[Cliques]

I get this too and I’m just starting to wonder if it’s exercise induced asthma. I used to think I was just terribly unfit, but I’m not now. It usually happens when I exercise outside rather than inside.

[Dogo]

I have exercise induced asthma and it feels a little like this (though more that I just can't breathe!)

[Anerak]

Exercise induced asthma here too. Can be distressing and painful

[Iwanttoredecorateagain]

Is it like a burning at the top of the chest? Rest of chest seems ok, not overly painful but definitely a reason to listen to my body and stop.

[AGnu]

Sounds like what I've always experienced. I also used to just think I was unfit but I'm relatively fit & healthy, am a healthy weight & can jog a little inside. Had an outside gym class early in the morning the other day & the cold air was awful on my lungs - I couldn't even keep up with the group if I pushed myself while they were just jogging gently.

I've wondered for years if I might have asthma but I dismissed it because it never seemed that bad, as long as I stopped exercising immediately...! For me the pain starts at the top of my breastbone & radiates out across the top part of my lungs. I also have coughing fits if I walk passed someone smoking, or smell strong perfume... I should probably go see my GP about it...

[Iwanttoredecorateagain]

@AGnu everything you said including the pain is exactly the same and i have to stop exercising straight away. It was worse this morning. I feel like my chest is the only part of my body letting me down. I've got a charity event 5k in 3 weeks so i need to get seeing to asap. Docs appointment it is.

[AGnu]

Let me know what they say! I'll book an appt if you find it useful!

[Cliques]

Same here!

[ragged]

Can you get this feeling on a brisk walk, or even just jogging slowly in place?

[Iwanttoredecorateagain]

I definitely get this even jogging slowly. Not so much a brisk walk. I went docs on Monday and they said its highly likely to be asthma (i did a run early that morning) amd i couldnt stop coughing and ahe noticed a slightly wheeze at top of my chest.

The earliest i could get into asthma nurse is 9th Sept. Day after my charity event. I've been given a preventer and reliever and to track my breathing 3 times a day. Tbh my breathing any other time is good. Its only during and after exercise.

I did a hiit cardio last night which felt good. I took a puff of reliever before it and im going for a run tonight.
It can take a while for preventer to work i believe.

[Lellochip]

I get this if I do anything above a slooow jog. Feels like I can only get air into the top couple of inches of my lungs. Inhalers don't seem to make any difference for me so I'm just doing my best to slow down or stop before I get to that point. It's frustrating. And slightly embarrassing as I have the most ridiculously loud wheeze that comes with it - a speech therapist described it as a "bovine cough" 😅

[Iwanttoredecorateagain]

@Lellochip surely there is some treatment that can be given? Maybe a review of inhalers? 🤞

[SquishySquirmy]

WHAT?
Is this not normal?
I thought the burning, chest exploding pain was just what happens when you run?
Mine gets a bit better as I get more fit, but my chest has always been the limiting factor when pushing myself. I get a bad cough directly after excercise often too and I sound like Darth Vader making a dirty phone call when I run.

[Whosorrynow]

It's just normal, if you exercise your fitness levels will increase and you will be able to tolerate higher intensity levels before you feel the burning in your chest

⚠️ I am not a doctor and you should consult one if you are concerned!

[Lellochip]

I think some level of burning from breathing heavily is normal, but any tightness, wheezing or feelings of not being able to get air in is not. I've been struggling for years and even now I can't tell what is my asthma, and what is just poor fitness 😅

If you're not sure it's always best to get checked out. Though if it's only exercise-induced it's hard to get a diagnosis or help when you're sat comfortably in your GPs with no symptoms, I got the feeling mine were just guessing most of the time. It was actually a sports physiologist at the local uni who confirmed mine by doing some testing whilst exercising

[Iwanttoredecorateagain]

@Whosorrynow no. Mine gets worse the more exercise i do. Im averaging exercise 5 to 6 times a week and im having to stop sooner during each session because of breathing although i think the inhalers are helping.

[MrBennOfFestiveRoad]

I have asthma and used to get this but always thought of my asthma as very mild and that it was just me being unfit. A couple of years ago my asthma worsened and I had to take it more seriously and was given a better preventative inhaler. That combined with two puffs of salbutamol seems to have stopped this and I have recently completed C25K without experiencing it at all, except for on one very damp morning. So, yes, you could have exercised/induced asthma.

[MrBennOfFestiveRoad]

*Two puffs of salbutamol shortly before a run.