coughing after run

yirara
yirara Posts: 10,053 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
*sigh* bit annoying. If I run slow and long distances I'm usually mostly fine. If I do a faster 5K I immediately start coughing as soon as I'm done running. At first every time I exhale there's the feeling of a dry cough and after a while it gets better. Tried a fast 1 mile run the other day and ended up coughing for 3-4 hours afterwards. Really not funny. Anyone else have this?

Mind you, my slow 10k pace is hardly different to the faster 5k pace. I do start slower but get faster in time while I start out faster with the shorter run. 7:40min/km vs 7:24min/km The longer run is really easy for me while I really have to fight big time with the shorter run.

Replies

  • susanmc31
    susanmc31 Posts: 287 Member
    Yes, I suffer from this too. It's after any time of new strenuous exercise but usually running. I thought it might be exercise induced asthma but it doesn't fit the symptoms of that. My coughing can last for a couple hours to 24 hours.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 10,053 Member
    Thanks a lot. need to look into exercise induced asthma. I thought it showed during, and not after exercise? It's really annoying though. There are days where I feel like running just before going to bed, but can't do so as I'll be coughing then and can't sleep.
  • FatMoojor
    FatMoojor Posts: 483 Member
    I know this sounds stupid but are you breathing through your mouth or nose while running. If you are breathing through your mouth could it be that you are gulping down air on your fast runs and just drying your throat out more.

    So as soon as you stop and try to return to normal you start coughing because it's so dry.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 10,053 Member
    That;s a possibility. Yes, I breathe through my mouth as my nose doesn't provide me with enough air. I don't know though if I'm gulping air down. I breathe very regularly, but yes, drying out might be a possibility. Might also be related to the cool temperatures as I never had this issue when running in a hot climate.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I get moderate exercise induced asthma for a few days after extreme exercise (100 mile rides or VO2 max tests as examples). It never strikes during exercise, only afterwards.

    Is it worse in cold, hot, dry or dusty conditions that may irritate your airways?
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 10,053 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    I get moderate exercise induced asthma for a few days after extreme exercise (100 mile rides or VO2 max tests as examples). It never strikes during exercise, only afterwards.

    Is it worse in cold, hot, dry or dusty conditions that may irritate your airways?

    I don't think I ever had problems in hot humid or hot dry conditions. I used to live in the Middle East, thus I got both a lot there. It's always a bit dusty as well. However, I only increased distance and speed in general since moving back to northerly Europe and only had a few faster, non-problematic runs in the ME since then. I guess it really is the cold air.
  • Bluepegasus
    Bluepegasus Posts: 333 Member
    Running in very cold air makes me cough, I think the cold just irritates the airways.
  • meredithdelcastillo
    meredithdelcastillo Posts: 64 Member
    Hi, I have asthma and I can really relate to this. I love to run but with asthma your lungs constrict far more rapidly than someone with out it. When I run, fast or slow, I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. If you are coughing 3-4 hours however I'd contact your primary care doctor to get you set up with an inhaler or something. I have my allergen specialist keep track of that stuff for me because even though I haven't had one in forever, I never know when I could have an asthma attack. Goodluck!
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 10,053 Member
    Hmm.. I still have an inhaler (ventolin) because I did have some lung issues in the past (never found out what, challenge test confirmed it's not asthma. Most likely multi-mineral/vitamin deficiency, which is under control now). But I only ever used it in real emergencies as it gave me so many side effects, including a really fast beating heart and a blocked nose/throat, both not so useful for running, really.
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    Bluepegasus wrote: »
    Running in very cold air makes me cough, I think the cold just irritates the airways.

    Same here. If it's in the mid 30s or lower it dries my throat out a bit. I don't notice it while running but later on in the day it feels a bit scratchy some times. What temperature are you running in OP? Is it better when the temps are warmer? It might just be this issue.
  • faithsstaircase
    faithsstaircase Posts: 97 Member
    I often have this problem. I got over being sick a month or so ago and I'm coughing like crazy after heavy activity. I have a lot of issues with post nasal drip this time of year, so I chalk it up to that. I don't have any shortness of breath, just coughing, and it's improving with time, so I think it's just my lungs expelling all the crap that's run into them overnight.
  • queenbee9989
    queenbee9989 Posts: 1 Member
    I have acid reflux that causes a cough. Something else to consider or ask your doctor about. (I'm Not really a runner but struggle with a cough for months that started with a cold and self perpetuated "a cough that contributed to the acid reflux that in turn created a dry cough") perhaps it's the motion churning up the acid into you esophagus then that causes the cough. Just s thought?????
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 10,053 Member
    queenbee9989 wrote: »
    I have acid reflux that causes a cough. Something else to consider or ask your doctor about. (I'm Not really a runner but struggle with a cough for months that started with a cold and self perpetuated "a cough that contributed to the acid reflux that in turn created a dry cough") perhaps it's the motion churning up the acid into you esophagus then that causes the cough. Just s thought?????

    Hmm.. I would not think so. I used to have reflux, but just keeping my mineral/vitamin levels ok and avoiding certain foods helps absolutely. Didn't have any reflux in quite a while now.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 10,053 Member
    _Waffle_ wrote: »
    Bluepegasus wrote: »
    Running in very cold air makes me cough, I think the cold just irritates the airways.

    Same here. If it's in the mid 30s or lower it dries my throat out a bit. I don't notice it while running but later on in the day it feels a bit scratchy some times. What temperature are you running in OP? Is it better when the temps are warmer? It might just be this issue.

    Yes, I wrote up there that it seems to be better when running at warm temperatures. But then I'm talking about temps of around 20-42C.
    It's not freezing cold here at the moment, still above freezing at around 8C (46F or so?). I have no pollen allergies even though they seem to be around already and I'm at the coast with usually a wind blowing from sea inland anyway. This also means that the humidity is a bit higher than in a more continental area.
  • postmordem10
    postmordem10 Posts: 7 Member
    You could be experiencing what the call lactic cough, or lactic acidosis. You're a runner so maybe you've heard the term "track hack" used. Runners and Cyclers are more prone to experience this. Essentially it's just an excessive build up of acid in the bloodstream. Generally experienced after intense exercising. Sometimes it only last a few seconds. I've tried to will it to stop by holding my breath but eventually my throat would tickle and I'd begin to cough again. Sprinting usually brings on a cough for me or very intense circuit, HIIT, or cross fit WOD. It's usually due to conditioning or the sudden build up in intensity. Run that fast mile at a slower pace, and more often to condition your body to the difference in training. It should help
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