AboutMarc Rubin, RPh AE-C Expertise I have worked directly with patients as well as caregivers for over 30 years. Have made presentations throughout Illinois to public schools to educate teachers and coaches about asthma, and how they should respond to these students needs. Presented a public education program on asthma through the US Department of Public Health. Specialize in helping guide asthmatic patients to take control of their disease in order to live a near-normal, fully active life.
Experience Experience in the area Practicing pharmacist for 30 years, specializing in asthma for past 5 years. Statewide education to teachers and athletic coaches regarding asthma.
Organizations Suburban Asthma Consortium (President & Education Chair), American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology> (AAAAI). Serve as a medical advisor to an internet education company, Emmi Solutions.
Question Hello, I have a brief question on what I should do before running with asthma. My asthma is not bad at all, but when it comes to sprinting or long endurance runs I have problems breathing which greatly reduces my performance. For example, I have ran a 6:13 mile and would really like to beat 6 minutes, but it feels as if asthma has really stopped me for achieving my goal. Is there anything that I should do before my run to improve my performance. I don't really have an inhaler and I just need something physical to help me and not medication.
Answer Hi Mark,
There are a number of issues to address. First, there are two components to treating asthma: 1)medication, and 2) recognition of triggers, and preparing for them.
First, what medications are you on now, how do you take them?
Second: how do you presently prepare for your running? Hydration, warming up, checking for pollen/mold and pollution levels? How do you check you lung function? Do you use a peak flow meter?
Lets start with these first. The new asthma guidelines direct us by correlating asthma with the two parameters of impairment and risk. We need to assess to what degree lung function is impaired, so we can then ascertain the level of risk that the condition will worsen. I don't forsee a problem of you reaching your goal, but it must be done with knowledge and wisdom.
I'm having a bit of a computer glitch at home, so it may take 24 hours to respond.
