Exercise and Coughing
 

Every time I exercise hard or moderately hard, I end up coughing off-and-on for the rest of the day. Does this happen to anyone else? I've never had asthma before, and it's only a persistent, tickling cough I get after a hard or moderately hard workout. I do get out of breath when I exercise, and I think that is what causes it, but I catch my breath and am fine except that a cough sticks with me.

This definitely happens to me, too. Not sure why, just thought I'd chime in! If you ever felt your breathing was compromised, I'd see a doc.

No, my breathing is always fine. I just get little coughs (not all that bad) afterward.

I get them occasionally too, but mostly if it's cold and I'm working harder than normal. I have never thought of it as being harmful, just me being unfit (maybe ignorance is bliss?) :)

Yes, I definitely did at first and it last quite a while, until my body got fit, I suppose. (Not to knock your fitness level ;) I didn't mean that!)

I used to get really congested after a good workout and would need to cough the rest of the day especially after intense cardio. I started taking Sudafed before or just after a workout and it helped tremendously. I only needed the one Sudafed in a day.

It happens to me if I run a lot on a cold day...not sure why. I think it has something to do with the way I breathe when I run???

Be careful and check your heart rate to make sure you are not going over the 85% target heart rate. Perhaps you are in the anaerobic heart rate zone and are overdoing it?

It sounds like classic exercise-induced asthma.

I wouldn't sweat it, so to speak: You're not going to work harder than you can keep up with, breathing wise-- that would be physically impossible.

If it's just a weather thing, try wearing a balaclava or neck gaiter pulled up over your mouth, so that the air you're breathing in gets warmed slightly.

Caveat: I'm not your doctor.

Thanks, everyone. :)

I used to think this was normal. Then I got an alubuterol inhaler. Turns out, it's not supposed to hurt to breathe when it's cold. You shouldn't be coughing after exercise, you shouldn't feel tightness in your chest, and you shouldn't have a bloody/metallic taste in your mouth. It's a very mild drug, and the only side effect I've found is that I have no excuse to not run outside when the temperature drops below freezing. Discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider.

I cough after I exercise, but I think it's cuz I'm a smoker. I know, naughty me.

I chuckled when I read this...only because I can't use coughing as an excuse to not exercise at all anymore.About the only thing I could do,was walk at a slow,but steady pace if I wanted any kind of exercise without wanting to die because I was coughing so hard.I went in last month and was given an inhaler and it has helped alot.No more excuses,lol.I'm glad though,because now I may be able to finally ski without having people come up to me asking me if I'm ok.

As to the OP,if it's not an overly annoying cough,I probably wouldn't worry,but if it interfers with exercise to the point that you avoid it,get it checked out.Wish I had done so years ago.

Actually this happened to me and was NOT asthma!!

It was acid reflux.

The exercise jostled me a bit, causing the acid to back up a little and that tickle feeling would happen in the back of my throat which made me cough...which irritated it and made it a cycle. Annoying.

I usually get that after I go jogging I can't stop coughing.

I will have coughing a little bit during exercise, but not afterward.

BTW, Serval, your cat is adorable. <3