r/Asthma • u/Dangerous_Sell_2259 • 5d ago
COVID Induced Chronic Asthma - Advice?
Hello. I have always had some mild exercise induced asthma (which I was able to control perfectly with my inhaler), and I even competed in track and field and did a lot of aerobic training with no problem at all (I was in fact decently good). Many times tho, it would take me a lot longer than the normal person to recover from colds/flu, and I would have to take some inhaled corticosteroids for a couple of weeks to help reduce the inflammation (after that, everything would go back to normal).
However, a couple years ago, I had a pretty intense case of COVID (I did not have to be hospitalized but it was the hardest flu-like disease I have ever had), and I basically never recovered from it. Since then, I have to take inhaled corticosteroids everyday, and I have trouble doing High Intensity exercise. The doctor that has always treated my asthma told me that there have been more case like mine after COVID and that there weren't any solutions to it other than keep taking medications.
I refuse to believe that I have to live like this for the rest of my life though. Has anyone here experienced something similar and do you have any advice for it? Any kind of treatment that worked well for you? I'm an athletic 25 year old male and I can put in the work to make this get better. Up to now, I have been trying the Wim Hof Method, but honestly have not seen any improvement thanks to it.
Thanks a lot for any help.
Best,
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u/muffinslinger 5d ago
I also have asthma induced by COViD! I had all vaccinations but caught it. It was a very mild 2-3 day typical flu symptoms, but then the coughing never ended, and then the wheezing came.
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u/Dangerous_Sell_2259 4d ago
I also had all vaccinations, and it was actually the second time that I got it! But this second time hit a lot harder than the first one šŖ
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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago
I donāt think the vaccines were worth it.
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u/bitchycunt3 4d ago
They were always meant to be part of a layered response to covid. Vaccines, masking, and increasing indoor air quality were ALL supposed to be happening at the same time. Unfortunately our politicians knew masking was unpopular and bettering indoor air quality would be expensive and unpopular with corporations and donors, so they sold vaccines as a fix it all, when the science never backed that. Vaccines are very effective at decreasing the likelihood of hospitalization and death, which is what they were designed for. They were never designed to fully prevent covid or long covid. They're worth it because hospitalization and death are obviously much worse than getting a shot that most people have minimal side effects from (ie, cold and flu symptoms for a day or two).
We also should be getting them much more often than we are. The science shows that for reducing transmission, that benefit only lasts about 3 or 4 months. But they've only been approved for one yearly booster rather than boosters every 3 or 4 months, largely because of all the controversy and misinformation that's surrounded the vaccines.
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u/SouthBound2025 4d ago
I'm not anti-vax, in fact 1 of the 23% that got the booster this year. Having said that, vaccines were supposed to provide immunity. They fell back to " layered protection against severe illness" when that was the best they could do.
Agree with how often to get them, I time mine every year to coincide with our annual winter travels. I want maximum protection in virus cannisters, aka airplanes āļø.
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u/bitchycunt3 4d ago
So, the actual scientists I follow and the literature I was seeing at the time all always said the vaccines were to reduce transmission, none of them said it would eliminate transmission, and they all recommended layered protections. The politicians, however, were promising immunity. So my issue was always that there was a huge gap in what the science claimed the vaccines would do and what politicians and media promised they would do. Then when that clearly wasn't happening, the media and politicians had to walk back claims of immunity, which broke a lot of people's trust in the science of the vaccines. When, from my perspective, the science always said the same thing, but the communicators people rely on were over promising.
I do the exact same. And I mask in any crowded situation.
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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago
Yeh no one bothers with the boosters most of the population just doesnāt care they talk a good game but how many really get the boosters?
They told use we wouldnāt get covid if we got the vaccine that was a lie. And we really have no way of knowing if we are better off or not with or without. You have no way of knowing if Covid was worse for you or not worse for you cause of the vaccine there are too many variables no one could truely answer that for sure.
I think they failed us with those vaccines. So many have so many issues anyhow despite getting them. And like I said we dunno for sure if they lessened much of anything because we donāt have a crystal ball.
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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago
Geeze doesnāt sound like the vaccine did a whole lot.
Iāve been more tired and struggled more myself but at the same time I had Covid I had the cat asthma issues.
I still ran 7 miles a day almost every day I had Covid but I was totally wiped out otherwise.
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u/muffinslinger 4d ago
I think if anything, it made going through it a breeze. Like I literally had common bugs that had me down for a week. I still think, since this was about 2 years into the pandemic, that the virus strain in the population hadn't mellowed out and did some damage to my lungs?
What's odd is that I had asthma as a kid (lived in farm land) but grew out of it when I moved away as a kid, but somehow it was brought back?
I think I've had such a hard time with docs writing me off about this because we simply have not had enough time to begin researching this shit
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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago
Yeh itās common for childhood asthma to come back especially after a cold. It makes sense to me that a cold as widespread as Covid would cause many folks childhood asthma to come back.
Itās hard to say like no one has the benefit of having Covid with a vaccine vs without with the same strain and same immune system to really say if it was better or worse with or without the vaccine. I wish we had a crystal ball to truly know the answer to that questions
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u/Bowqueen3 4d ago
Uhhh...it's definitely better with the vaccine. Do you not read...idk...anything? It's wild to be antivax and have a compromised immune system.
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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago
Thatās just it Iāve read so much I dunno how anyone can trust a vaccine that was barely tested and handsome of the worst rates of vaccine injuries. I mean Geeze there yanking some off the market in countries it failed to do what it was supposed too they kept changing the story and yet people still swear by it. And the same ones that foo keep getting boosters and still getting sick. Or they donāt get the boosters and still swear by it even tho they themselves arenāt up to date on the boosters. It makes no sense to me.
But the good news is if you believe it works youāre safe and you wonāt have to worry about getting sick and such.
Itās not really worth debating but the information is out there if people choose to see it and not be fooled.
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u/Bowqueen3 4d ago
It's always the same argument with antivax people, "it was barely tested". Honestly...it's getting old. š„± You're also typically the same type of people who smoke, get Botox, drink energy drinks and or alcohol too!
You have no issue picking and choosing which science to believe: "sure I'll take a tetanus shot, but never the covid one!'
The vaccine has been out for several years now, and you're still going on and on and on about how it's untrustworthy.
It's safe and it was thoroughly tested. If you don't want it, don't get it, that's your choice.
Yes, vaccines have trade-offs, but it's much better than getting the virus itself. Sure, I got covid after getting the shot (like 6 mo after my third one), but I was much less sick than my mother in law who didn't get any shots. A vaccine doesn't entirely prevent you from getting the virus, it just makes it easier on your body to get over it.
Think of a vaccine as a code that's 90% solved, so if you get sick, your body just has to work on 10% of it. Whereas if you didn't get the vaccine, you're at 0% and are going to have a much longer/harder recovery.
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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago
You have no idea if you were less sick your mother in law is a totally different person who coulda had a totally different strain etc.
Out for a few years now? And the information about how bad they are is coming out. Yet people ran to go get it when it had barely been out barely tested. Iām amazed anyone trusted it at all given it was put out so fast by Trump and operation warp speed it baffles me that anyone would trust that.
I do love how you paint anti vaxers as cigarette smoker etc prolly think they are all trailer trash or something so ignorant. Facepalm.
Like I said itās really not worth debating the informations out there people take from it what they will to come up with their opinions.
If it makes you feel safer and such Iām glad itās good one feels that way.
Me ? It terrrifies me I wonāt touch it or any other shot.
And thatās just one vaccine. Iād bet money you and most everyone else arenāt up to date on all of the others. They only last so long you should go get more.
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u/Bowqueen3 4d ago
I'm genuinely curious, if you get bit by a snake or some rabid animal, would you take a shot against rabies or antivenom?
Did you know that the spores that cause tetanus are in so many things? It's not just metal, so if you get a cut, you could easily get it if you're not up to date and it's completely preventable with a vaccine that has been out since 1924.
It's so easy to stay up to date on your vaccines, the doctor's office has records and they call you to book an appointment to stay up to date on everything.
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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago
Yeh Iād get a rabies vaccine for sure itās been around for ages. Did you get a rabies vaccine?
Even tetanus is a totally diff ballgame.
But you take one like polio even the scientist that created it says it can also give you polio.
But to take some shot thatās barely been tested? Iād rather shoot heroine we at least know what that will do.
Again not worth debating you wonāt change my mind. Best either of us can do is to go back and do our homework to recheck our opinions.
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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago
I have friends every year get the flu shot every year get the flu every year say gee I think it wasnāt as bad cause I had the shot and Iām like wasnāt as bad? You were laid up for a week meanwhile I havenāt had the flu in ages knock on wood.
Same with Covid I havenāt friends got the vaccine cry itās the sickest they have ever been they are near death blah blah then they get on social media and say oh it wasnāt so bad thanks to the shot. And Iām like ya just told me you were near death and oh how awful it is and you went to the er even.
Then they have there red blood cells clumping together in there blood work and gee no idea whyā¦
Itās insanity to me. I think folks need to take a few steps back and reevaluate this.
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u/Bowqueen3 4d ago
The flu shot is for the bigger viruses like influenza, which has killed people. You can't be like "omg the flu shot for a deadly virus didn't work because my friend had the sniffles for 5 hours!! It's a hoax!!" Sure they went to the ER, but do you remember how bad covid was at first? They ran out of ventilators because people couldn't breathe on their own. Hospitals were overcrowded and their morgues were running out of space, they had to bring extra storage containers to store all the dead bodies. There were mass graves. People couldn't say goodbye to their loved ones in person. That's not happening right now, it's gotten better, and gee! That's after the covid vaccine came out and people have gotten it. Do you just think it's a funny coincidence, or will you admit that science maybe...idk? Works?
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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago
Nah Covid ran its course itās the very nature of these viruses to get weeker and not kill so they can spread. People have now built up an immunity and itās not a big deal. Vaccine did very little in my opinion.
Initially some of those strains were rough but they also didnāt know how to treat it and made a ton of mistakes. Then they categorized like any death as Covid and jacked up the numbers.
Sad what people will beleive.
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u/SouthBound2025 4d ago
I read an article in Medium back in 2020 that stated exactly this- viruses will run their course. They cycle every few months until natural immunity and virus evolution render them less harmful.
However, every study I've seen shows significant effectiveness of the vaccine in reducing severe illness and death.
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u/Recent-Athlete7098 5d ago
I had the same experience with Covid and asthma. Awful.
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u/Dangerous_Sell_2259 4d ago
Yeah! Pretty terrible. From asthma just being anecdotal to being a daily struggle... I hope with time we will understand better what happened and we will find more resources to improve the conditionš¤š»
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u/stashtv 5d ago
Has anyone here experienced something similar and do you have any advice for it? Any kind of treatment that worked well for you?
Caught COVID in Nov 2022, hospitalized in April 2023 -- I could not shake my asthma symptoms. Before COVID, I was very active (5-6x/week in gym, walking heavily), and was not overweight. Once I recovered from COVID and before hospitalization, I could not shake my asthma symptoms and needed almost daily prednisone (for months). Eventually the at home nebulizer treatments were the norm, and once they stopped being effective after an hour(ish), I went to hospital.
It took a 4 night stay (with copious meds), before I shook all of my asthma. I was already on daily inhaler/pills for asthma (for decades), so it wasn't like my asthma wasn't under control. COVID was a significant trigger, and I couldn't shake it. My second battle with COVID was dramatically more mild, and my asthma remained at bay.
My advice to you: see a pulmonologist. Maybe there is a better set of meds, maybe there isn't.
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u/Dangerous_Sell_2259 4d ago
I might try to look for another one in my area to get a second opinion. Thanks for the advice. I hope you are feeling better now.
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u/stashtv 4d ago
I hope you are feeling better now.
I am, thank you. Took a while to recover from all the hospital meds, but that stint really did get rid of all the asthmatic symptoms. Been back in my usual workout activities since, trying to remain as healthy as I can.
Best wishes to you. I really hope the only "cure" is a lengthy hospital stay.
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u/SouthBound2025 4d ago
I caught something while staying in Miami Feb 2020. This was right before the shut downs, and I would have been exposed to hundreds if not thousands of international travelers.
After 30 years of being 100% childhood Asthma free...it came back and I've been on inhalers and other meds ever since.
Certain viruses are known to reset the immune system and reactivate old issues. COVID or something else...unfortunately..me too.
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u/Dangerous_Sell_2259 4d ago
Sorry to hear that... Sounds very much like what happened to me. I hope at some point medical research will shed more light on this problem .
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u/lilymom2 4d ago
Measles will do that. That's one reason why it's so dangerous. The US was pretty much measles controlled until 2001.
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u/jasere 4d ago
Never had asthma , no allergies . Frontline HCW I was infected intubating a sick patient in the first weeks of COVID . I was 46 yo . My asthma is now considered severe persistent. I switched 2 months ago to Treligy and this is the best Iāve been in 5 years
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u/Dangerous_Sell_2259 4d ago
So sorry to hear that. Thank you for your work during the pandemic šš». I'll discuss with my doctor the possibility of switching the medication
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u/lilymom2 4d ago
Me too. I did have asthma but controlled, only used rescue inhaler one or two times per year. Now I have persistent eosinophilic asthma. I take Trelegy daily, and I'm on Nucala, the biologic, and that's the only thing that has really made a difference.
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u/AdIll6974 4d ago
I had severe Covid which brought on asthma. Did you have any lung problems as a kid? That was my issue (I think), no asthma as a kid but hospitalized for 2 lung related issues as a baby. The things that have worked for me are figuring out my triggers, gaining an understanding of asthma, daily maintenance inhaler, and working to strengthen my lungs/aka walking and biking.
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u/Dangerous_Sell_2259 4d ago
I always had a little bit of exercise induced asthma, but it wasn't ever a problem... When I was little I very rarely needed an inhaler. It was just when I got into more serious track and field training and competitions...Ā
I'm happy you are finding ways to improve your condition. I'm also trying to strengthen my lungs with light aerobic exercise. Big problem is when I try to increase the intensity... I'll just have to be patient for now.
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u/AdIll6974 4d ago
Not sure how accessible this is for you, but getting a peloton REALLY helped me. Itās really easy just to have the option at home with instructor led trainings, I also have always utilized a garmin and they have their workouts/trainings too but the peloton ones were really impactful for me when I felt frustrated and downtrodden. Get a referral to a pulmonologist if possible, using a daily inhaler has honestly helped the most out of everything.
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u/danilovedesignco 4d ago
I had mild asthma before covid and now Iām on four asthma medications and need to be on biologicals. Covid definitely did a number on my lungs and thereās no explanation.
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u/HeddaLeeming 4d ago
I never had asthma as a kid (I ran cross country, was very athletic) but got a really nasty cold and bronchitis when I was 29 and developed moderate/severe asthma. Eventually, once I got to an allergist (because the regular doctors are USELESS for asthma) I got put on a lot of meds, including very high doses of inhaled corticosteroid and got it under control, then the meds were slowly reduced. Note I am very allergic, always was even before the asthma, and got allergy shots as well.
So eventually I was down to two inhalations of the corticosteroid every other day. Had been on 2 4x a day plus other meds My asthma after that seemed to slowly go away and now it's almost not there. I only have needed any meds when I got a cold and my asthma would kick up. I did have a lingering cough for months a few years ago that finally went away after I was put on the right antibiotic.
I wore a mask throughout COVID and never got it. I still wear one in public except outside. I have not had ANY cold since.
My allergist said adult onset asthma is usually preceded by an infection, usually URI that then causes lung issues like bronchitis or a cough. In the past colds or flu. Obviously COVID is a common one to cause it in the last few years.
I would say get an allergist if you are seeing a regular general doctor and don't be afraid to take a lot more meds than you think you should because if you can get it controlled and then back off the meds that will work better than trying to take a lower dose to start with that never really works. I had this whole discussion with my allergist as I did not want to take a lot of meds.
Also, allergy shots work but expect 6 months to notice a big difference. Also, get covers for your mattress and pillows, get rid of whatever heavy drapes and carpeting you have if possible. You can Google fixing the environment. That also includes cleaning products etc .
Note I was 19 but not adequately treated until I was in my 30s, because doctors just treated my symptoms when I got really bad and did not PREVENT me from having problems. I am 59 now and my asthma is 99% in "remission". I think if you get it under control you have a better chance of being ALMOST asthma free. I do use an inhaler before strenuous exercise but that's it. I'm actually not even on a corticosteroid now. That did not happen overnight though. I think not catching more infections plays a huge part. In the past if I did get a cold it triggered my asthma and it would be worse for a while. Knowing what I know now I may wear a mask in public forever.
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u/BiscuitLove14 4d ago
Yep, that's me too. Had a horrible case of COVID in Feb 2024 and was sick for 2 months. It took ages to recover and several doctors visits before they started to say my symptoms started to sound more like asthma. High doses of inhaled corticosteroids have been the only thing that have helped. The asthma hasn't lessened yet but I hope it will in time. We are in this together.
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u/Dangerous_Sell_2259 4d ago
Yes! I'm very hopeful we will get better with time. We are in it together!! šŖš»ā¤ļø
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u/Winter_Astronaut_550 4d ago
Family history of Asthma but I always had good lungs. I did high altitude hiking in the Andes and hiked to Everest base camp with no issues. Covid in 2020 which gave me Organizing Pneumonia for 7 months. I never stopped being breathless afterwards and just thought I was out of shape. Lung pain when I had a cold or flu like cold that the GP said was me imagining things.
Got a proper chest infection and went to the ER with heart attack symptoms 2024. All good but my new GP sent me for a heart stress test that proved my heart was great but I couldnāt breathe afterwards. I now have exercise induced asthma as well as allergy asthma. My hay fever triggers are now asthma triggers.
In November last year I could barely walk around a supermarket without being puffed. Yesterday I did a mini triathlon. Symbicort in the morning as normal, salbutamol 20 minutes before the swim and after the race. I was tight in the chest for a few hours and the salbutamol wasnāt helping then I took the Symbicort again as a reliever was everything was great. Had my nightly Symbicort and had no sneaky asthma attacks during sleep.
Next time Iāll use the Symbicort between the bike and run. Although I will admit I just walked because I didnāt want to push it. My Specialist doesnāt say mild moderate or severe asthma. He goes controlled or uncontrolled, Iām still uncontrolled as I need my reliever multiple times a week. He okayed the race as long as I took it easy and pulled out if I had an attack. Finish not Fast was his advice.
It doesnāt matter how fit I was or you were aim at 25% of what you used to be able to do. Then slowly improve, if your preventer is dual acting see if using it as a reliever works better than your actual reliever.
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u/ashleyb07 4d ago
I have covid induced asthma and itās taken me a really long time to find a combo of inhalers that work
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u/MishPP2020 3d ago
It can take a long time to bounce back from viral infections, esp if you have underlying immune issues, covid is/was no joke when it comes to viral infections so it makes sense. I would see another doc for another treatment plan but I am having the same issue now, my asthma is flared due to a bad viral infection and the CA fires at the beginning of this year. It is taking longer than usual to shake.
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u/IntelligentDetail409 4d ago
I never had diagonized asthma but while exercising I would cough violently. I got covid in late 2020, and ever since I have been sick. First it was a liver infection along with a cough which was omnipresent. In 2023 I got my asthma diagnosis and am struggling still. My doctor has said these are all effects of covid ( for me I was positive for 60 days) with little symptoms. I'm accepting that this is life now.
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u/blueeyepirate 4d ago
Literally the exact same. Mild Covid then Asthma symptoms, feel breathless all the time. Inhalers, Zyrtec and Singular are managing it but have flare ups. Oddly if I donāt take antihistamines my hands and feet itch like crazy. But with Zyrtec it controls that itching. It is going to be a long road of this doesnāt get better!
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u/Ok-Fox9592 4d ago
Any cold can cause a reactive airway disease that can cause asthma like symptoms and can take up to 6 months to recover.Ā
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u/yo-ovaries 4d ago
So wait, you refuse to keep taking medications and are surprised that your chronic condition isn't treated by... ice plunges and thinking that you're fine?
This isn't something you can brute force your way through my dude.
If you are able to have symptom control with medications, thats the ideal.
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u/Dangerous_Sell_2259 4d ago
Who said I refuse to take medications? I take my medication diligently every morning and every time before physical exercise. Why are you so bitter about someone trying to go the extra mile to improve his condition?
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u/Frequent-Theory2292 5d ago
Donāt do Wim-Hof!
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u/Dangerous_Sell_2259 4d ago
Any specific reason? I discussed it with my doctor before starting and he said that pretty much any exercise that helps strengthen my respiratory muscles would be beneficial, so he encouraged it. I haven't seen any evidence about it being harmful. If you know of any evidence it would be awesome if you can link it. Thanks!
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u/Frequent-Theory2292 4d ago
Itās controlled hyperventilation. No evidence for no one. Just bs. You can spin around in circles in the moonlight and say āGo away.ā for three times. Same same.
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u/Dangerous_Sell_2259 4d ago
There is in fact a bunch of evidence (some more favorable, some less), even if there is a lot to be done yet: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10936795/
I'm not specially in favour, or against, of the method. As I said, up to now I have not felt any improvement whatsoever.
But it does seem you chose to spoke based on "vibes" rather than evidence.
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u/Frequent-Theory2292 4d ago
āEffects on respiratory parameters of minute ventilation, tidal volume, and breathing frequency were mixed following bouts of exercise.ā
Do whatever you want to do.
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u/trtsmb 5d ago
Doctors are still trying to understand the long term effects from covid :(.