Is Hiking Advisable For An Asthma Patient?

Posted on Thu, 5 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 5 May 2016 Answered on

Wed, 22 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi i have asthma problem, i have registered for hiking in himalayas so i have started preparation for that wherein when im doing excercise or when im doing swimming or cycling i dont get asthma.i have bit cough also now. So, now my question is whether im good to do hiking now.

When i get asthma i take bethensol 0.5mg and salmodil plus syrup..

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You should first get done PFT.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Honestly speaking, you are not taking correct treatment for asthma.
Oral corticosteroids (betnesol) should be started last, not first.
So better to consult pulmonologist and get done PFT (pulmonary function test).
PFT will tell you about severity of the disease and treatment of asthma is based on severity only.
Best treatment of asthma is inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) (budesonide or fluticasone) with or without inhaled bronchodilator (formoterol or salmeterol).
So with appropriate control in asthma, you can do hiking.
But first let me know
1. Have you ever consulted pulmonologist?
2. Have you ever undergone PFT?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar