Do I have asthma?

[Jess36]

I'm a runner but have really been struggling with my breathing during my runs since I had covid over a year ago. Today before I went for a short run I took a puff of my son's inhaler and I noticed significant difference, breathing felt so much easier and it wasn't all over the place as it normally is. Could it indicate I am having some sort of asthma related issues with my lungs?

Only a medical professional can tell you if you have asthma. It's quite possible that Covid has left you with inflammation in your airways or a lung infection or possibly COPD so make a GP appointment.

And don't borrow other people's medicines. Each inhaler has a different function and some contain powerful medicines such as corticosteroids.

PS I am asthmatic but not a medic. There's no way could I run more than 50 paces.

It's quite possible. I developed asthma after a severe case of covid. If you have asthma, you need to be under a doctor's care.

Was it a blue ventolin (salbutamol) inhaler? If so, that’s a ‘reliever’ inhaler, also known as a bronchodilator, which relaxes the airways in the lungs so people with asthma can breathe more easily. If the inhaler has that effect on you, it’s possible you are asthmatic so speak to your GP.
Some people, including me, do become asthmatic as adults. If you are asthmatic, don’t worry. It is a very manageable, controllable condition with the correct medication.

I use a ventolin inhaler and don't have asthma,
I have a completely different respiratory condition.
Speak to your doctor, stop using meds not prescribed for you.

Thanks for the input, I will speak to my GP about this. Yes it was blue inhaler, took one puff to see if it makes a difference and it did.

If it keeps getting worse you'd need spirometry tests to see if your lung function is normal and a CT scan to check if there are visible abnormalities. There are a lot of different lung conditions, asthma is just the most well known/ common.