[Doro]

Hi there,
<p style=”text-align: center;”>I recently got diagnosed with Asthma and my doc told me that it would increase my HR when I’m exercising because if my Lung can’t do all the work my Heart muscle would have to do extra work. At least that’s what I understood. I recently have done a AeT and AnT test and am now wondering if the Asthma is messing everything up? I’m not using an inhaler but this will change soon. It also seems to be more a light form of Asthma as I don’t get the being out of breath experience but do have to breath harder as soon as it goes steeply uphill.</p>

<p style=”text-align: center;”>Are there any insights on how to establish zone 2 when you’re having Asthma? How will taking an inhaler affect my HR? Would Asthma have anything to do with being aerobically defficient?</p>

Thanks so much for your thoughts!

[Dr Andy Reed]

Hi Doro

Thanks for the question – it’s a great one and the answer is not so simple. A number of studies have looked at HR responses to exercise in asthmatics and there is really no clear answer. In mild asthma, or in EIB (exercise induced bronchoconstriction) no consistent pattern is seen, and in all likelihood HR is unchanged for most asthmatics. Changes in HRV (heart rate variability) can be seen but this is related to changes in sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system activity and not to the ‘heart muscle having to do extra work’, and absolute heart rate values may not be significantly different in most asthmatics. Now in more severe asthma, or during an asthma attack, sympathetic activity is often higher – this is probably related to the anxiety of not being able to breathe well, or even due to inhaler use, which commonly will increase HR.

In terms of aerobic/anaerobic thresholds changing, I don’t know of reason why they would be different, unless of course you have poorly controlled asthma or are using large doses of inhalers, which may increase heart rate values for a given intensity or output. I think the best solution for you would be to simply retest your zone once you’re established on your new inhalers. Hope that’s helpful!

• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 2 days ago by Dr Andy Reed.

[Doro]

Hi Andy,

 

Thanks so much for your detailed response.

It is very helpful.

 

[Author]

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