Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rocklee]

Just the other day while climbing my usual mountain, I kept stopping every 15 metres for air and my legs. Finally, I was sort of gasping for air on the way back down and my legs were shaking (6 hours later long story).

I take it that I'm out of shape but I can't believe I'm that unfit (I can play ball all day).

It could be the altitude, or it could be the diet. It could also be my age (32). The thing was, I've always had to take breaks or at least monitor my body to rest every once in a while when trying to catch my breath. So now I'm concerned about whether I may have some degree of asthma.

[heydelores]

If you think you have asthma, see a doctor. Altitude sickness occurs at 2,500 meters and above. SK's highest point is Halla-san at just under 2,000 meters. It could be an exercise-induced asthma. Classic symptoms are wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, excessive mucus, tightness in chest, but these symptoms are different for different people. For most people, asthma is fairly managable, but it can be quite dangerous and even fatal, so please do see a doctor if you think you have asthma.

[Juregen]

A sure sign of asthma is that when you breath you whistle a bit.

My father had it, it was great when we were playing hide and seek.

[SirFink]

[Doogie]

[rocklee]

Judging by the responses, I think I might have a case of asthma. I used to do cross country back in high school and I do consider myself active.

Anyway, I'll get myself checked out...by a Korean doctor perhaps

[moptop]

Try to go to a large hospital and ask to see a Pulmonologist. When I went to a clinic here to try and solve some of my breathing problems after a bad cold, the doctor told me to stay indoors and drink lots of hot water. Real effective and totally possible because I have no life

I am 34, and developed asthma in my late 20s. I had had very few asthma problems here for the first year, but the pollution does take a toll on your body. I started developing more problems the next year even though I had moved to a "healthier" area further from Seoul. My officetel was right next to a 6 lane highway and I had a huge amount of chest colds that year and the asthma flared a lot. The killer part was I caught pneumonia, but it turned out to be a kinda good thing because now I'm on medication that controls the asthma.

A good pulmonoligist will help you find your "triggers". Sometimes it's exercise, sometimes allergies, sometimes temperature and seasonal change,and sometimes stress. They will hopefully ask you a lot of questions so it can be useful to think about and prepare for these.

I also climb the mountain I live on every day, and in summertime the heat and humidity can be very draining. The wet heat is one of my triggers, and sometimes it feels like i'm breathing through a soaking sponge. I also cough up a lot of mucus, which can be another asthma indication. There is little energy in my legs and a general tired feeling, too. I feel better when I get in a cool, dry, air-conditioned environment. It's not from being out of shape. I get this sometimes even though i've been climbing for almost 6 months every day. It's probably impeded lung flow..

The pulmonoligist should do a computerized lung flow test. If you have medical it's cheap, about 3,000 won. It will show how well your lungs are functioning. When I had pneumonia, I was using 72%of my lungs. I'm now up to 89% and I'm stoked! That's my highest since January!!!! I'm on a medication called Singulair that you can take when your triggers are bad, also cheap. You will probably want to AVOID steroids if possible. The docs here seem to really want to push them. Try not to take Prednisone. I feel confident advising this because your condition doesn't sound serious. My docs always want to prescribe it but the side effects are so crappy that the cure is worse than the symptoms.

Try to do some internet research. It will give you an idea of what you may be dealing with. Asthma is a funny thing. People can have different symptoms at different times. I don't have so much of the wheezing, but sometimes when I breathe, it's like the oxygen doesn't reach my lungs, or I get winded really easily, or I cough up what's called mucus plugs. Yum. So fun to do in public!!!

I hope this gives you an idea of how to deal with your possible problem. The docs here aren't so reliable, and you have to know your stuff and what to ask for. I don't know what area you are in but PM me and I know a few docs that are pretty good and that I would recommend.

[rocklee]