Training & Nutrition - Constant cough

I commute every day to work and school. 5 miles to school, 7 miles to work. Lately after my rides, my lungs feel like they are full of wet sand. Its not like I'm having difficulty breathing, I just end up coughing alot. I think the cold weather might have something to do with it. Can anyone tell me why and how to avoid this problem?

It could be pollution/smog depending on where you are located? Its hard to describe the sensation that I get after I have worked hard on a high pollution day, perhaps that can give some incite as to the problem.

I get this every winter. I've gone to a couple of physicians and always get the same answer .. exercise induced bronchitis. There is little that can be done if you have this, they sometimes give you an inhaler. However, you don't want to goof around where your lungs are involved - make an appointment with a physician.

Originally posted by Spire
It could be pollution/smog depending on where you are located? Its hard to describe the sensation that I get after I have worked hard on a high pollution day, perhaps that can give some incite as to the problem.

I don't think this is the case. I live in the burbs, and unless that damned Subway across the street is dumping toxic waste in my backyard, I should be pollutant-free. :)

It is very unlikely, but consider getting screened for tuberculosis.

webmd.com has a lot of self diagnosis tools

Mikey,

GO see a doctor, preferably a sports physician
who will understand exactly what's going on.
You might also want to check out excersize induced
asthma, the reaction to the cold seems to ring a bell
to me. (of course I may be completely wrong).
Do yourself a favor, see a doctor.

Marty

i have some questions.

do the symptoms go away during the course of the day or is it constant?

do you get a scratchy throat or itchy skin as well?

do you wheeze or just cough?

is it seasonal or does this happen in other seasons or temperatures?

do you also get a headache or fever?

does it happen during other forms of exercise or exertion?

has the season been rainy?

do the symptoms go away during the course of the day or is it constant?
It goes away after mabey half an hour.


do you get a scratchy throat or itchy skin as well?
No.


do you wheeze or just cough?
Just cough.


is it seasonal or does this happen in other seasons or temperatures?
I've only noticed this happen in colder temps.


do you also get a headache or fever?
No.


does it happen during other forms of exercise or exertion?
This only happens after I ride.



has the season been rainy?
Nope, dry as a bone.


Thanks again for the response.

I think rotifer has the answer here . I also get this winter time and my problem is seasonal bouts of bronchitus.
You might try breathing in through the nose only to warm the incoming air. This would help a lot .
Also you could wear a mask or necktie scarf which would do the same job. The fact that this only happens on days when the air is cold is the clue to the problem :)

Try and get to see a doctor who specialises in sports and fitness problems you will get taken more seriously. 99% of doctors have no idea what serios cycling is. There idea of biking is a couple of miles down the road to the nearest pub and back

As an after thought if you are hammering it and have a few stiff hills on route then that could induce your symptoms if you are pushing quitwe hard. If you see the Tour de France riders giving interviews straight after a race they always cough. Exertion of that magnitude actually damages the tiny aerololes of the lungs and causes fluid build up and some slight bleeding from broken blood cappilaries. This would be more pronounced if you were suffering form a chronic lung infection.
I'm sure we have some fitness experts here that can explain this better than I

we are just trying to rule out asthma, an infection (ear, nose or throat) or allergy. while it does sound like bronchitis or just plain cold weather or exercise induced asthma, it might be a symptom of chronic dehydration. either way, a full work up is always advised as the lab numbers rarely lie.

Good idea , although I'd doubt whether cronic deydration was a factor otherwise you would see lots of other more serious symtoms like headaches, cronic fatigue, apathy,weigh loss, constipation, infrequent yellow smelly urine etc. Most people suffer from some degree of dehydration without realising it.

From a guy who plays hockey once a week and rides indoor for the remaining days:

Your cough is the same thing I get when I play hockey. It goes away after awhile right? The cold arena air being sucked into my lungs is quite dry and the driness causes me to cough in order to draw some moisture into my lungs again. That is why it goes away after awhile. After you stop you give your lungs a chance to warm up again and therefore moisture returns. No more coughing.

Dont worry your not gonna die...:p

I seem to have roughly the same problem, It just seems that I cough up a lot of mucous for about 15 min after a hard ride in cold weather, it would seem to me to be from the dry air, as suggested above. I never seem to have any other problems or symptoms.

similar symptoms to children who get croop. the treatment is changing the temperature. turn on the shower to get humidity in your lungs then go outside to get some cool air. the temp and water content changes help to correct your constriction and dilation so you don't collect fluids.