Does anyone else...?

kenzietea
kenzietea Posts: 614 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Have this bizarre symptom? Every time I have done high intensity cardio I feel like my sinuses are out of control. During the work out my nose is constantly dripping and my throat and chest will sometimes burn. After I sneeze uncontrollably (it is kind of funny to witness) and my sinuses (or maybe allergies??) continue to drip (sometimes I get a headache but it could be completely unrelated). Also...and this is the most unattractive and grossest part... I cough up flem afterwards! Ew! I really am unsure what it is, but I DON'T like it at all. Maybe its just clearing out my sinuses because I am just now able to start high impact cardio again. I really don't know! If anyone else has experienced this, PLEASE let me know- and if so what has helped you and what seemed to be the cause?

Oh and I am not a smoker and never have been!

Replies

  • Mightytaco84
    Mightytaco84 Posts: 76 Member
    Seasonal allergies? Take some OTC allergy and you should be fine.
  • angeljamin
    angeljamin Posts: 234 Member
    Sounds like where you work out has something you are allergic to :cry:
  • funfitfoodie
    funfitfoodie Posts: 630 Member
    I'm pretty sure exercise clears you sinuses naturally... maybe you just got a lot to clear :ohwell:

    Sometimes I get a runny nose when I run.
  • XanderWiFi
    XanderWiFi Posts: 11 Member
    My main question in this would be: what weather and conditions are you running in? In response to the increased demand for oxygen, your body will open up airways to increase oxygen intake. When this happens you can have a runny nose and drainage.

    Another item I focus on is when you say "high intensity." For lack of a better word, our airways are also "lubricated" since we are creatures primarily made of water. Airway passages will humidify the air you bring into your body to keep the environment comfortable, if you are breathing in and out continually with a lot of force, your body cannot properly humidify and keep itself "lubricated." The result is the phlegm, burning and discomfort.

    Climate also has an effect. When I run hard in El Paso, TX where the air is extremely dry I have felt like my lungs and chest were on fire. Dry climates will dry you out and leave you uncomfortable and phlegmy.

    I would look into allergies if you started having issues with itchiness on your body and eyes; or your eyes tearing up. Otherwise it just sounds like you are have a rocking work out. If it were easy and painless everyone would do it.

    How to resolve: lower your intensity, ensure you are hydrated, keep a water bottle to drink to keep passages moist.
  • fittraier
    fittraier Posts: 138
    My husband has exercise induced asthma, and coughs up phlem for hours and into the next day after trying to run. go get checked for allergies and asthma!
  • kenzietea
    kenzietea Posts: 614 Member
    I was living with a smoker for a long time, who smoked in the apartment. I am thinking since I recently moved out I could still be experiencing side effects of my body riding itself of all of that. I live in extremely dry weather (so cal) so that I bet is also a factor. Thanks for all the tips, turns out many people have been having bad allergies recently in my area so I think that is the most likely cause. Even though OTC allergy medicine is not helping much right now-I still think it MUST be allergies since my work outs are usually outdoors and I am still experiencing sneezing way too often. I am going to try a different allergy medication today and see if that helps, if not I will cave and go to the doctor and see what he says! Thanks everyone- all of your suggestions make sense.
  • XanderWiFi
    XanderWiFi Posts: 11 Member
    Depending on how long ago you moved out, you will have to clear the pathogens from the 2nd hand smoke from your system. You do this by coughing and hacking up a lung-it is the body's defensive mechanism for when back things are in the lungs. It is why we never prescribe a cough suppressant for a pneumonia patient-we need them to cough and expel the fluid that is harming their lung tissue.
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