Thickness in my throat while running?

aimeexlauren

Hey guys,
I notice that sometimes when I run, my saliva gets fairly thick and makes it hard to breathe at times and I often have to spit it out. Anyone else experience this?
Am I not drinking enough water prior to running?

nicolemarie999

Yes I have, seems worse in the morning for me so may be that it's related to hydration. You can have your doctor check to see if you have some post nasal drip going on too.

enterdanger

I get this too...always thought it was allergies.

rnelson88

Not being adequately hydrated prior to running can cause this. Also, this happen with sports induced asthma. I would definitely get your doctor to check it out if drinking more water doesn't do the trick. Hope this helps!

tincanonastring

I get it sometimes, but I haven't noticed any type of pattern. Sometimes I think it's a hydration issue, other times I feel like it's environmental. Have you noticed any patterns due to your own behavior (fluid intake, etc.)? How's the pollen count where you're running?

Cherimoose

GERD? Exercise-induced asthma?

rgbmore

I got this a ton until I was more used to running. More water before the run and during helped.

Forty6and2

I get this any time I exercise, so I assume it's because I'm a mouth-breather

brainburn71

I get this running as well as most heavy exercise. I also assumed it was mouth breathing related. I have found a piece of hard candy seems to improve it.

Glampinupdoll

I get this as well when running but I know it's not due to not being properly hydrated...not sure what causes it!!

amyn73

Totally get this. I just drink water while running.

brrrycicle

I get this all the time. I think it's either my saliva thickening after breathing through my mouth, or phlegm. Chewing on minty gum while I run makes ALL the difference.

erimethia_fekre

I agree about hydration. Within an hour before I run I drink at least 16-24 oz of water and about another 16-24 during depending on duration.

RoxieDawn

Once in a while I have had to spit like a dude on the street, not very becoming of me running in public. Its not GERD for me because I do not eat or drink for 2 hours before I run. I am a mouth breather too but it only happens once in a while.

Exercise induced asthma is new to me. Just for kicks I need to google that one.

Int3rceptor

Forty6and2 wrote: »

I get this any time I exercise, so I assume it's because I'm a mouth-breather

Definitely agree with this.

I suffer with blocked sinuses so I am a mouth breather - I simply cannot get enough air in or out through my nose.
When your mouth starts to dry out, spit gets thicker and harder to swallow.

I absolutely detest spitting but now I can see why some runners and athletes do it.

RoxieDawn

Looked up exercise induced asthma.. http://acaai.org/asthma/exercise-induced-asthma-eib, this article has a pretty severed list of symptoms (actually scary stuff) but it is not just spitting out saliva or plenum from the lungs.

coreyreichle

Pretty sure it's a mouth-breathing thing, as I get this too during hard pushes that I end up mouth breathing, but on my long slow runs, I don't (mostly nose breathing on those).

scorpio516

N=1

I've been dealing with this for over 20 years. I spit constantly while running. White phlegm. I'm a little phlegmy all day, but drinking something carbonated cuts through it.
It's not EIB (exercise asthma, isn't asthma but bronchoconstriction). Inhaler didn't help. Pass a blow test with flying colours too.
It's not a histamine condition. I was on cromolyn, no help.
It's not pneumonia or emphysema or any other illness. My blood checks out fine and my lungs sound perfect.
It's probably not asymptomatic acid reflux. 2 weeks of prilosec didn't help.

I've got another follow-up with my PCP in a couple months.