My son is 17 years old, very healthy, and athletic. About a month and a half ago, he had a pretty bad bout of something with a lot of symptoms and congestion. He was tested for flu, mono, etc. and nothing came back positive. He is a runner, and when he was getting over this, he started having trouble breathing and catching his breath during practices. We go back to the doctor and he gets tested again (all negative again) and was put on antibiotics and was given an inhaler. He had chest x-rays and they were clear. The only time he had trouble with his breathing and constriction in his chest was if he tried to run. Some days he could run fine with no problems, then it would happen again during a different day's run. Some days he could run 10 miles with no problem, and other days he might run a mile (race) and have problems. He stopped running altogether for two weeks to see if his lungs would heal or get better from whatever it was he had. He has been active and exercised and has done other sports with no problems. Now, he is getting back into running and the same things are occuring. Today he had to quit his run because he had trouble breathing and catching his breath and the constriction. So, it is back to the doctor.
Has anyone had anything similar with their child that they can shed some light on this for me? Why is it just when he runs? Why some days and not others? This never ever happened to him in the past until he got sick with the flu or cold or whatever it was he had. Could it take this long for his lungs to heal? Could they have been scarred from coughing or congestion? Could it be allergies? I'm really at a loss since it came on so suddenly and seems to be hanging on longer than I thought it would. He does have some seasonal allergies, but never were that bad. He's upset about this because his main sport is running and is what he loves to do. I think he was psyching himself out a little before, and maybe overthinking his breathing, but I'm certain that could not cause these problems he has. Any suggestions or advice?
Thanks mamas for all the excellent answers and advice. You are so knowledgeable!!! I know nothing about this since no one in our families has had problems like this and my son hasn't either. I still find it hard to believe that this can just happen out of the blue. It's very frustrating since he's so fit and healthy. Ugh! It looks to be exercise or allergy induced, but he needs further lung testing to see if there are other issues like Riley suggested. I'm hoping he does have some sort of damage or trauma that will heal rather than a chronic lifelong condition. Only time will tell and we will have to deal with it either way. He is going to be on some allergy and asthma medication for now and will see a specialist next week for tests and such. So, we will see how he does on the meds and what the tests/evals show. Thanks again for all the help!
Honestly, I would see a cardiologist. He could have blockage or leaky valve that is preventing his body from pumping enough oxygen and be short of breath. Before my father went in for valve replacement he had become so short of breath that he couldn't even walk up short flight of stairs and not be winded. Honestly, get a cardio consult. Good luck.
I would see an allergist...Yes, allergies can cause this and each day will be different depending on the weather and the pollen count.
This sounds very familiar to me since I have done it since I was a kid. Its called exercise induced asthma and the blood vessels in the lungs constrict when you breathe in cooler air. It only happens sometimes, but its random, so some good tricks are to use the inhaler about 20 minutes before needing it as a prevenetive measure. Also, breathing through the nose and not the mouth helps heat up the air as it enters the lungs so that it won't be as harsh on them and the constriction won't be so bad. He may out grow it, I rarely need an inhaler now (almost 30 years later), but when I am sick, congested, or having an allergy reaction, it gets worse and I need the medicine. Good luck, but ask his doctor about this as a possiblity.
It truly sounds like exercise-induced asthma. You can develop asthma in your teens and older, I did in my 30's. Possibly his lungs being affected when he was sick set the asthma off.
As far as why it happens at some times and not others you would need to keep a journal to figure out what may be setting off an attack.
What is the weather like? Are his allergies worse before an attack? What has he eaten before an attack? What is the pollution level in your area? All of these and more factors can play a big part in asthma and when he has attacks. Also, psyching himself out, worry, and stress can all definitely play a big part in bringing on attacks.
Take your journal with you when visiting the doctors, and bring any patterns you've noticed to their attention. What you've observed is just as important to their diagnosis as any tests they run.
With a daily inhaler and rescue inhaler your son should be able to continue his running. I've listed a couple of links on asthma in teens and adults to give you both more information.
http://www.webmd.com/asthma/tc/asthma-in-teens-and-adults...
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions/asthma/asthma-...
excercise induced asthma worsened by allergies
Sounds like you got your answer ASTHMA! My son has it too. Just remind him to relax and not get worked up, you guys will find a solution or med that works for him. I want to add that I got asthma after having H1N1 last year. Now it flares every time I have a virus and lingers for awhile after...dang swine flu! :)
My whole family (2 parents, 3 kids) had H1N1 almost 2 years ago, and 3 of us have virally induced asthma as a result of it. We didn't have asthma before, but our lungs are changed/damaged from the virus. It is improving though, and I'm hopeful that after this summer my youngest, who has it the worst, may outgrow the condition. Good luck!
Did they test/look for fluid & or inflammation in the pleural space? (the space between the lungs and the membrane that surrounds them). It can be difficult to see on chest films. Lungs look clear, but they have difficulty expanding to full size. It's particularly difficult with athletes, since they usually have larger than normal lungs. Even a pulmonologist can miss it on the films unless they're looking specifically for it.
With either fluid or inflammation in the pleural space ordinary breathing (esp for athletes whose lungs only need to inflate about 1/3 or LESS full for walking/brief -for them- exercise) can SEEM completely normal, as they don't need to actually inflate their lungs that much and DON'T on a day to day basis. But put them into training and they start using their lungs the way they've been "grown" to.
As a former athlete, even smoking and with pneumonia I have almost DOUBLE the lung function of most people. If I'm with a doctor who doesn't know that pudgy little me used to be half pro I have to insist on xrays when I know I have pneumonia (because I'm "blowing" above "normal" in the lung function tester). Each and every time, I'm right and I've got fluid blocking about 1/3 of MY NORMAL breathing space.
Now, your son doesn't have pneumonia... but he IS an athlete... which means that the docs need to be looking at his breathing issues through that lens.
I'm willing to lay money on the table he's got fluid or inflammation in the pleural space, since the problem is ONLY kicking in when he's using his lungs to their "full" potential, and that they're just not able to inflate fully because they're being blocked.
((aaargh, stupid computer crash... adding))
If NOT a pleural space issue... I'd think next toward atelectasis (partially collapsed lung). Also REALLY hard to diagnose in athletes because the lungs are so large. The doc (or you if you have a stethoscope) has to move the scope not just in the standard 4 quadrants to listen, but up to 20 different places on EACH lung. Doesn't usually show up on xrays, although it can. It "sounds" like silence, and can be as small an area as a grape or as large as half a lung or more. My son currently has 6 areas of atelectasis on his right lung right now and has had more than 10 (and he's just an 8yo). Again, it wouldn't interfere with your son's normal activities, but would DEFINITELY show up as he's trying to be athletic and NEEDS to move air through the collapsed area and can't.
In any event, as an athlete, he's going to pass normal tests with flying colors. Take him to a pulmonologist (obviously) and make sure you pound in ATHLETE, ATHLETE, ATHLETE, into their heads several times... since he's going to need to be tested under THAT lens, rather than 'normal kid' lens.
it sounds like asthma
Asthma can set on in adult years after never having had problems before.
After having my first baby, I contracted a horrible lung infection and ended up in the ER with shortness of breath. I was told I was having an asthma attack. I said, but how when I don't have asthma? I was sent for a pulmonary function test and the resulting diagnosis was mild asthma that was aggravated by illness and exercise. The rest of the time, I'm fine. I just keep an emergency inhaler around just in case I ever need it. Maybe that is what he has too?
I had Whooping Cough about 5 years ago, and it seeed like a very, very bad cold ..lots of coughing and not being able to catch my breath. It took FOREVER for my lungs to be back to normal...when i d try to breath deep (which you would do while running) or if I'd laugh, id go into a coughing jag. I'd say it took a full year for them to heal completely back tot he way they were. Whooping cough is bacterial in nature , however, it must be swabbed for in the first two weeks, or it won't show on a test. It also must be treating with ABX in the first 2 weeks.. or it wont work and you have to just let it run its course. Whopping cough is on the rise. I'm sure there are other infectons that can be similar. I used herbs (ecinacea) to help my lungs. Mullein and elecampana may also be useful.
On another note, Asthma can start to occur in people who have adrenal fatigue. In your case It is probably related to the infection, tho.
Is it possible that he has asthma? Speak to his doctor and get a referral to a pulmonologist. Good luck!
Go see a pulmonary specialist for further testing, something is not right. Has he ever had an EKG done, if not it would be a good idea given he is young and in sports. Many hidden heart conditions can be found at a young age. I don't mean to scare you but it is worth checking out. My nephew would get winded from doing very little, 18 year old, found to have an extra muscle in his heart that needs to be cauterized or frozen. In some cases if it is not taken care of the child could have a heart attack.
I have had similar problems for my whole life. In my case it's asthma, but this can be complicated by a number of factors: My mental/emotional state at the time; what chemicals I've recently been exposed to (even common household cleaners have turned out to be a huge problem for me); whether I've eaten and slept well.
I was really surprised to learn about the mental/emotional connection. I found out I get asthma whenever I'm anxious or angry but not admitting it to myslef. Sometimes just noticing and acknowledging the presence of some emotion is enough to relieve the wheezing.
And the suggestion of ozone is a good one. You might take note of air quality conditions on days when he's better or worse. Ozone is a lung irritant, so smog could make a big difference, especially since his lungs have been so recently challenged by illness. You can look up local air quality reports online.
I agree that it sounds like exercised induced asthma. I think a visit to a specialist is in order.
Yep, a similar situation, only with soccer. It ended up being the Laundry products and household cleaners. ESPECIALLY the laundry, the fumes are released from the softeners and detergents when they sweat.
I tried different detergents on the markets. All cleaners are not what they pretend to be... I will suffice it to that. Want to know which ones that worked immediately let me know!
He could be getting asthma. I didn't get asthma until I was 19 and it became terrible in my 20s, and improved in my mid-thirties. He could also have exercise induced asthma. Finally, sometimes when lung tissue has been traumatized or scarred, it can take a very long time for it to heal, so although you feel better walking around and doing normal activities, running can be too strenous for a while. It doesn't mean that you can never run again, but it can take a surprsingly long time to make a full recovery. I'm an avid exerciser and learned that one the hard way.
Take him to an allergy/asthma doc. Asthma can be triggered by illness. That is what happened to my daughter, she's 10 very healthy and active as well. Had never had any problems until one fall she had bronchitis and then whenever she would run and play her sports she couldn't breath. Had her tested and she has exercise induced asthma. It's only when she's running around other than that she's fine, only has to use inhaler before activity and take singulair and allegra for allergies.
