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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Skiiers with asthma?

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Most-D
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,088
Hi NS,

Just a quick one to ask how any of you with asthma manage when getting back into season-mode. I really want to learn to manage it better when hiking (altitude and cold air don't help).

Thanks for any advice!
10 years ago
11 5
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B.Quincy
Posts: 1074 - Karma: 963
I really just ease into it take my time and always keep my inhaler hand haha, but also drinking water and making sure your up for whatever it is your hiking. Also take your time and go at your pace, find a friend who gets you have to take it slow and they are supportive, makes it a hell of a lot easier
10 years ago
0 0
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Old-schooler.
Posts: 120 - Karma: 971
Cold air causes your muscles to clench up more causing your lung way to be smaller making Athena worse... So just keep on a bandana or some sort of baclava or scarf to keep the air you are breathing warm. Make sure it's not dirty though, that could be worse than just having nothing over your mouth.
10 years ago
1 0
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Old-schooler.
Posts: 120 - Karma: 971
Asthma*
10 years ago
0 3
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PsychedelicMoose
Posts: 792 - Karma: 3,568
I have asthma and it sucks ass to hike features and backcountry, always have an inhaler and water w/ you.
10 years ago
2 0
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Broook
Posts: 353 - Karma: 46
used to have it pretty bad... one of those machines every night and shit.... find when im outside and up a mountain - things are good. gets worse when im in stuffy ski bum houses.
10 years ago
0 0
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robbinJAHood
Posts: 1202 - Karma: 3,077
lay down in the snow and weeze urself to sleep. works every time
10 years ago
2 1
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rtl32
Posts: 679 - Karma: 1,161
When you feel like you're tightening up take it slower or stop for a minute or two, try to avoid hiking features. Take your inhaler on the first chair or in the parking lot, try not to push yourself that way. Make usre you breath deep into your stomach, I used to tighten up and breath less when I skiied and it made it 10x worse. After all unless you're skiing whistler or Colorado/Utah you don't usually ski that much continuously unless you have a really big hill, So take advantage of lift rides and cat tracks when you can chill.

Not much to say about touring other than pace yourself

I find that the more I run or bike in the cold the better I am with dealing with it when I ski. Your warm weather fitness level doesn't mean shit.
10 years ago
0 0
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
If the above tips dont help, you may need better pharmacological control of your asthma.

Take the 30 second asthma test

If you answer yes to one or more of the questions, you could benefit from better control.
10 years ago
0 0
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connecticunt
Posts: 847 - Karma: 1,541
My asthma is so bad just walking anywhere in ski boots can take a lot out of me. But honesty that's what I get for smoking at 14. I keep my inhaler on me everywhere I go, sitting down and interlocking my fingers above my head really helps open up the lungs, and frequent water breaks help a whole lot too. I've also been cardio training a lot and I've noticed a huge difference.
10 years ago
1 0
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
Are you still smoking!?!?!
10 years ago
0 0
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Mingg
Posts: 14034 - Karma: 50,662
My lungs are awful. I usually need my inhaler 3-4 times a day when I go out skiing. I've tried steroids and other ways of controlling it but nothing really helps. I've found the better shape I'm in, the less my lungs act up. It doesn't completely help but it does a bit. Being in better health overall is all I can really do.
10 years ago
0 0
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Rparr
Posts: 5747 - Karma: 48,974
I think it depends on the nature of your asthma. I do not have exercise induced asthma, I feel fine when I ski. My asthma is triggered whenever I got a cold, it's bizarre.

I don't know what would help on the slopes besides an inhaler and being in better shape.
10 years ago
1 0
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