Cold always goes to chest

[gardenhelpneeded]

Just fed up of it and looking for advice.

Late 40s and fit. I run, lift weights, do lots of outdoor activities, bootcamp, mountain climbing. I eat a good diet and am a size 8/10.

However every time I get a cold it goes to my chest and I get a terrible cough. Breathless etc…

I am teacher with three kids so am around lots of germs.

I’ve just been floored for the second time in 5 months. Feel terrible. No energy. Struggling to walk up the stairs. I worked this week but teaching (in a mask) was hard. Back in bed now.

I used to smoke. 20 years ago now. So I am worried I’ve damaged myself.

Any advice? I just feel sad and sorry for myself.

This was the pattern for me before being diagnosed with late onset asthma, though in reality colds have always gone to my chest. I'd also always react to smoke if any sort. But I never wheezed and learnt to cope.

Around your age it got much worse and eventually I started getting lots of real infections that would happen very quickly and need antibiotics.

It was a friend who was a nurse who suggested asking for a blue inhaler to see if it helped and then asthma U.K. helping me to work with Gp to get diagnosis. The Gp wasn't very good as most gps use asthma nurses now; you can only see them IF you have asthma.

So I had to ask for a special appointment to discuss it and she did a simple test measuring peak flow before and after ventolin.

If you think it could be I'd speak to asthma U.K. first

When I saw the thread title I clicked on it to ask about smoking. As an older child and teenager, my colds used to go to my chest and I'd end up on antibiotics for bronchitis. After I left home, it didn't happen any more. I was brought up in a smoking household, but have never smoked myself. I haven't had bronchitis ever since, and I'm 50.

Sounds as though you could do with an asthma inhaler to get you through colds.

Thank you both. @WarriorN I will investigate that, thanks. I did have an uncydent where running uphill in the cold when I suddenly couldn’t breathe. It was quite alarming!

@WarriorN I’ve not smoked for 20 years now. Really praying it’s not going to come back to haunt me

Incident

Either way it sounds like you need checking out. If not asthma your lungs aren't happy and are over reacting to triggers (viruses, the cold, exercise. V common asthma triggers.)

Chest tightness when running in cold is an asthma symptom but I don't know about post smoking etc

If you need a blue inhaler for colds and running that's not treating the problem. It's a sticking plaster.

To treat, You need a preventer which is a twice daily steroid inhaler. This should mean you hardly use the blue except to help with colds and any triggers/ exacerbations. I then moved to a dual steroid and bronchialdilator after a few years which was amazing.

Phone asthma U.K. when you can as they will be able to talk it through more and then contact Gp.

I don't react to animals, pollen and dust and I don't wheeze. Asthma can be different in everyone.

Thank you @WarriorN I appreciate it. Just need to get my head around it. My dad has COPD from smoking and I find all this emotionally quite difficult as so much of my exercise is tied to the outdoors and exercise.

I'm so sorry to hear that; I can understand your worry. Either way it's worth checking out.

I hope you feel better soon

I should say - as much of my happiness is tied to exercise and the outdoors.

@WarriorN thank you

I've had this all my life, it's definitely asthma!

OP, I have the same problem. Colds nearly all turn into chest infections for me and I end up on antibiotics. I’m a non smoker. It might not have anything to do with your smoking. I was convinced I was asthmatic because the breathlessness was so severe, but I had lung function tests which were normal. I have been given blue inhalers before to help get me through when I’ve been badly infected, and at the start of Covid I was given one because my chest is always tight in winter, but technically I’m not asthmatic. It’s a mystery. I hope you get some answers.

Thank you! I have had lung function tests before which were normal. I can run 5km in under 25 mins and 10km in less than an hour. I am feeling really crap today though. Just a heavy feeling in my chest like it’s congested but I can’t cough anything up (sorry)

Can you steam to get the stuff up? Head over a bowl of hot water. It’s really the best way. I also brought myself an air physio (a device to help get stuff up) but haven’t had chance to use it yet. It got great reviews though. I also got myself a small nebuliser for saline (when COVID started I was all over this!)

Bronchiectasis. I was the same for years, told it was asthma. Went from one chest infection to another, only steroids would get rid of it. Eventually new GP sent me to a chest specialist. I now take 3 azithromicin a week (prophylactic) and have 3g sachets of penicillin and steroids to take when I feel an infection coming on. Can you tell when it is turning to an infection? I get a sort of rolling sensation in my chest. I still wheeze at night though. I hope you get it sorted as chest infections are so draining. Good luck.

Vitamin D saved my life. I had 5 chest infections in one year. I was dragging myself with no energy at all.
After seeing a few GP's I was diagnosed with low levels of vitamin D. I was given 300k units to take in 12 days. By the third day I could tell I was getting better. I haven't had a chest infection even after a cold and covid. I can't recommend you enough seeing your gp for some blood work. Best of luck 🤞🏻

Thanks so much everyone. I have a doctor’s appointment this morning. She mentioned listening to my chest, an inhaler, exercise induced bronchio spasm and some tests for lung function. All a bit scary. She also mentioned COPD but thought unlikely as I gave up smoking 20 years ago. Praying it’s not that as my dad has that.

Ps I will get some stronger vitamin D

Good luck I hope it's helpful