BootsnAll Travel Community

For anyone that has climbed Kilimanjaro or similar. Would you recommend the adventure for someone with asthma? Thanks!

I know a girl from work who did summit and she is asthmatic. I will be trying the same this Dec.

There is some stuff on the internet about Asthma and high altitude..check it out. They say that in fact the lack of pollens helps breathe easier.

Also I read that swimming to increase lung capacity will help in the climb.

In general swimming has helped my asthma and I have not had an bad attack in years since I started swimming regularly couple of years ago.

Good luck

quote:

Also I read that swimming to increase lung capacity will help in the climb.

Do you mean just doing laps in the water or actually swimming underwater to build up lung strength?

Swimming laps I think..as you do have to breathe under water and then you come out for air...

http://www.mydr.com.au/default.asp?article=2682
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/173_11_041200/wardell/wardell.html

I think the basic idea is for your Bronchii to expand to take in more air...basically one gets asthma because the air flow is restricted by the bronchii contracting...

Don't quote me on this...I will find out more and this is imp to me as well....

http://www.bodyresults.com/E2asthmaalt.asp
http://www.asthma.org.uk/about/factsheet13.php

As I said before there is lot of research out there and also really depends on what kind of Asthma you have.

Thanks a ton for the information! I'm heading to Africa in a week so I'll let you know what happens. Hopefully, my inhaler will lead me to the summit.

Good luck..and do let us know how it went as a bunch of us are going end of the year.

Hope you can make the summit..

Cheers