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Originally Posted by Paul Kotik
...The physiologist noted ( and I cannot verify this ) that a recent US olympic swimming team consisted almost entirely of asthmatics. ....
...If this is so, then a history of asthma may be associated with anatomical and physiological adaptations which would be an advantage to a freediver.
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Alternatively, the USA swim team, their coach or their physician might have found that asthma medication is a permitted performance enhancing drug? At least that is what we always assumed ...they found something within the rules to give them an edge.
Having a close family member suddenly get extremely severe asthma (they had to give up exercise, including swimming & cannot even watch swimming now because of the air round the pool is so damp & chemical filled) -- it seemed laughable that America was fielding an entire team of asthmatics.
By the way, if you ever want to reduce dependency on inhalers -- you might want to investigate the
Buteko Method ...used in Russia, US, UK & NZ IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN (don't mess about with asthma -- too dangerous, it can get worse, it can kill) -- although many doctors are unaware of Buteko, there are doctors & nurses around that are familiar with it. A $35 video of the technique (from a Seattle clinic) was sufficient to see dramatic, real improvements & they have an effective technique for clearing a blocked nose & stopping an asthma attack. It is not a cure...but it really works. Part of the theory is that asthmatics hyperventilate because they have insufficient CO2 (not insufficient oxygen) -- apparently, years ago, asthamatics were given a small dose of CO2 rather than oxygen (I have seen oxygen be counter productive). The basic Buteko exercises involve a system of timed breath holding exercises -- so perhaps asthma & freediving can, counter-intuitively, go together.
I have no affiliation with Buteyko I just saw it work. It worked immediately & gave continual improvement -- over a 6 week period the person in question went from 6 double-doses of emergency inhaler a day (plus other medicines) down to 0 emergency inhalers (other medications retained). They learned how to halt an asthma attack (which previously often required ambulance & ER). A change of environment can help too (pollen, mold spores, dust mites, smoke, pollution, etc.). Sea air seems to help us -- not everybody is the same though.
