I will find out this next week as I'm going for some exercise stress testing. I'm training for the New York marathon this year and so far I'm happy with how my sats are going.
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I was diagnosed with copd 4 years ago and moderate asthma 25 years ago. I never ran in my life but started trying to run 2 years ago at age 49 and finished my first 5k in 46 minutes. My 5k time is now just under 40 minutes, and I completed my first 1/2 marathon in December of last year in 2 hours and 53 minutes. So I believe the cardio has made my breathing better. I was so convinced I had been misdiagnosed, I had a second full loop pft done in Feb of this year but the diagnosis came back the same. I was devistated all over again. I am being proactive by eating a healthy diet and continuing to run as long as my breathing and legs will allow it. It has been so encouraging and inspiring to me to read about other copd'ers and their athletic journeys.
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A sincere congratulations Meldjo; my story is similar to yours, the doubt about the initial diagnosis, the devistation after the second set of tests. I have, however, been running daily for 43 years with full knowledge of my asthma, but totally unaware of the COPD until last year. I have been fine-tuning my diet for a couple of years now resulting in much better general health and maintenance of a healthy weight to boot. In addition to trail-running (no pavement - don't want to add knee problems to the mix) I also do yoga and pilates. I live in the mountains far from traffic and pollution so I am certainly breathing air that is about as pristine as possible. I run on mountain trails here and I measure my runs by miles and elevation gain as opposed to time - I am 67 years old so my pace has slowed down to due to aging. I have no other thing that I can attribute my good health too but lifestyle. I often wonder how long I can stay ahead of the COPD curve. Ken
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I do not have COPD or any other health problems. I am 69 years old and run 4 yo 5 times a week completely up hill the equivalent of level 5 or 6 on a treadmill for 2 to 3 hours. I feel great and hope to be doing this until the day I died. The Raramuri Indians of Mexico inspire my style of running but these people with COPD inspire my spirit. It is just wonderful to hear of such courage and determination.
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Hallelujah I love this board!!! I did not know about any community of runners with lung disease. I am 46 and a lifelong asthmatic, have been running since my teens. My asthma is "moderate persistent non-allergic". FEV1/FVC = 68% or so (84% of normal), while on Symbicort and Pulmicort. I had stopped running for a few years after my son was born and the FEV1/FVC dipped below 60%. When the viral infections starting getting more frequent and severe I got back into the running and the numbers came back up after a few months. I am so encouraged to read about people who are keeping up this lifestyle as a way to fight the lung problems. Thank you!
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I've just been diagnosed at 41 with copd too and I'm a ultra runner about to embark on my first 100 miler in 6 weeks. Keep running it's scary stuff but not all is lost :)
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I am 65.Running with COPD, super inflated lungs,I ran up to 32km these days, but mainly 21 and 10km runs. Stil run below 5:00min pace /km. But my lungs hurt lately and lots of fetige after runs allthough breathing is better. Allso have problems with O2 to the brain ( dizzy) after runs in hot conditions. Have decided to lower pace now and become less compedetive but still run about 63km /week ave.
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this is so inspirational to me, I don't know if you will ever read this, but I am 47, a few short months from 48, diagnosed with early stages of copd - my peak flow was barely 350, and my doctor told me that it should be up in the mid 400's. If I keep trying then I get it. I started running - but am having trouble with continuous running - I run on/off for 2-3 miles about 2-3 times a week. Try yoga - even just the breathing techniques - they really work! Good luck!!
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I have had COPD for years and at 250 on spirometer. You are wrong that that requires medical intervention. While I am just starting to run, and can't go for more than a minute or two, I am comfortable walking and doing anything else.
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Do you know what your blood oxygen level is when running and are you on any inhalers drugs
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Ken, at 67 years of age I too have copd and also a runner, my first mile is really tough, but after I become aerobic I can run at a moderate pace around 9 minute mile. it's not super fast but I'm out there. good luck to you so keep running, thanks jim
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I am new to running and have fairly severe exercise induced asthma. I have started doing a 3km loop of walk, run intervals. I have to dose up on Ventolin before I do this otherwise I have a great big attack. I am going to keep persisting with the exercise because afterwards I feel great. I think it may make my lungs stronger, hopefully it will help me with my chest infections in the winter too.
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No, I was 94 when a smoker, I gave up smoking and 3 years later discovered I have COPD from lung function test and X-ray. The O2 reading slowly went up over 5 years ( I expected it to drop when carbon dioxide left my lungs) it is now 97. I have run three half marathons coming in at the same times for my age group. When I went to the gym twice a day I managed to get my readings to 600 from 400 with meds. Without exercise they are 450 to 500.
When training I used the Canadian method of breathing through perked lips, it is very dificult and within seconds I feel like I am suffocating. I am still loosing lung function but as the doc said I am making my body more efficient at functioning rather than the lungs. in the gym I went for repetition rather than increase of weights. I trained mostly on the cross training to reduce impact and when running used rough terrain and hills. I did cheat after the last half marathon and used my infection steroids for recovery and I was walking comfortably the next day, before I was unable to hardley walk and stairs had to be negotiated backwards. I think one needs to have a proper assessment. As Asthmatics can have incredibly low readings but they are still Asthmatics. I don't really know I have COPD until I have used inhalers for a few days or go into a smokey atmosphere or sudden physical actions without working up to them.
When training I used the Canadian method of breathing through perked lips, it is very dificult and within seconds I feel like I am suffocating. I am still loosing lung function but as the doc said I am making my body more efficient at functioning rather than the lungs. in the gym I went for repetition rather than increase of weights. I trained mostly on the cross training to reduce impact and when running used rough terrain and hills. I did cheat after the last half marathon and used my infection steroids for recovery and I was walking comfortably the next day, before I was unable to hardley walk and stairs had to be negotiated backwards. I think one needs to have a proper assessment. As Asthmatics can have incredibly low readings but they are still Asthmatics. I don't really know I have COPD until I have used inhalers for a few days or go into a smokey atmosphere or sudden physical actions without working up to them.
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I have had a spiromètre test- my lung function is 46% and my peak flow is around 200. I have COPD, however I too am a runner- I regularly run 5k races and am training for a marathon. What you have said is extremely negative- anything is possible with dedication and hard work- you should try it sometime!
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