I have asthma which is usually well controlled by medication. I have one problem. I like to try and run every other day. The problem is, I run for one minute and then walk for two and do the same for about 30 mins. I have been doing this for a while now and feel like I dont seem to be getting anywhere with the duration I can run for without getting out of breath. I know that the warm weather does make my asthma worse and I know the medical term for this is excercise induced asthma.

In Winter I can run for a bit longer without getting out of breath and love this. When I went running tonight I pushed myself for a extra 5 to 10 seconds and I really felt like my lungs were going to burst.

Im just wondering if anyone has experienced this and eventually got better at running for longer. Im not wanting to be able to run the London marathon or anything like that but just want to know that I will be able to get a bit better with my running and it does not matter how long it takes. Any advice would be welcome.

I have the same problem and have not been able to beat it so I would be like you to keep us updated on this and let us know how you get on if you dont mind.

I will keep you updated, as Im thinking of going to the docs to see if he can give me any inhalers that help with this, I have heard that these are available.

I've never been able to run more than 100 meters or so with my asthma - i wish you the very best of luck, I wish I had the same determination as you!

I have 4 inhalers but they did not help much and I see the asthma nurse at my GP surgery every 3 months but she does not seem to know what we can try next so I am hoping that if you find something that I have not tried it may help me.

Maybe not really relevant but many moons ago i was a member of a gym for keep fit and though running/jogging (whether in the gym or not) did trigger my asthma i found the cross trainer and cycling did not.

Besides, i always find running/jogging is the most boring activity!!

It may be worth a go to try to find an exercise which doesn't trigger your asthma, as *Turbo* suggested.

Most people with asthma find that they can exercise to a higher level whilst swimming than doing other exercises because of the high humidity of the air just above the water.

If you can't improve your aerobic capacity with running but can find some other form of exercise which doesn't trigger your asthma then your running should improve too.

I'm lucky enough that my asthma isn't exercise triggered- it's just everyone spraying body spray in the changing room afterwards that sets mine off!

You could try looking at your diet to find things that trigger your asthma which is sometimes just an allergic or sensitivity reaction.

Look at things like potatoes, margarine, beans etc. Knock each one off for a week and see what you are like.

To control your breathing try swimming front crawl with two strokes or three strokes between each breath then increase the pace as you become comfortable.

Interesting subject this. I'm 55 and was diagnosed with it when I was 21 just after I came third in a race out of 100 people. Since then I've not allowed asthma to beat me and exercise at least five times weekly in anything I choose. I love running and over the years have had to change treatment several times in order to facilitate exercise. My advice is to take the inhalers as prescribed both preventatives daily plus salbutomol just before exercise. I've just returned from holiday where i developed a chest infection and ended up in A&E in France. Three days later I was running and quite well at that.