To ask about asthma and altitude

[Seaside2456]

Recently diagnosed with adult onset asthma
Going to a ski resort in a few weeks. ( I’m not skiing though) Does anyone with asthma find that altitude affects it?
It’s all new to me Thanks!

I have adult asthma. I’ve been to altitudes (we aren’t talking Everest, but mountainous regions). I have had some altitude sickness, headaches, feeling off and tired, but no issues with my asthma itself. Just bring your inhalers and take it easy to start until you can acclimatise.

The cold can certainly affect it, I find myself wheezing more when it's particularly cold out and I'm doing something more strenuous. Agree with just ensuring you take your stated dosage from your inhalers and see how you go.

Enjoy your holiday

The cold can definitely affect it. If you go up really high you could be at risk for a condition called high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). This can occur even in people who don't have asthma but I am not sure what the effect is for those who have asthma. I'd suggest speaking to your provider about whether it's safe.

I've been to Bogota which is in the Andes, one of the highest capital cities in the world and high enough to make some people prone to altitude sickness. I have asthma too and was concerned before we went but other than feeling a little bit more tired and a little less like running, I felt fine. Ohh, I woke up on my first day there with a headache, but took a painkiller and it went away. The altitude didn't seem to affect my asthma at all.

I have asthma. Trekked to Machu Pichhu. Was fine. Why aren't you skiing?

My son has cold and exercise induced asthma so he’s definitely worse when skiing.

Sorry, wasn’t clear. It’s not just the skiing that gets him - there are lots of steep walks in the places we go to in order to get to slopes. He struggles with these. Gentle skiing is fine. I’m not sure it’s the altitude but the cold.

Thanks so far . I’m less worried now about the altitude Wasn’t sure if altitude would affect things as diagnosis so recent

I have asthma, mild and diagnosed about 5 years ago. Altitude doesn't affect it. However we were on a family ski trip last week, staying at 2000 metres, 18 month old grandson contracted a viral infection, and as the local hospital said the altitude exacerbated it, the insurers had to pay for lower level accommodation and a return to the UK by train not plane.
Make sure you have declared your asthma to your insurance company, in case anything untoward occurs.

Stop spamming @consciousparent