Have you ever had a cough while exercising? Be careful as this is a sign of EIB (exercise asthma). You need to understand this disease to know how to deal with it.
Coughs during or after jogging are a typical manifestation of EIB. This condition occurs when the airways in the body suddenly constrict in response to any physical activity that causes a sudden increase in heart rate, significantly limiting the amount of air reaching the lungs. . Even if you don’t have any respiratory problems, there’s still a 15% chance of coughing (more seriously, EIB) when running or doing endurance sports. Let’s learn about the causes and treatment of coughs with easyhealthylive.com for better and safer training sessions.
How do you know if exercise is the cause of your cough?
The symptoms of EIB are not specific, so it is easy to confuse them with other common illnesses such as colds and dry coughs. Common symptoms of EIB can include shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, cough, chest tightness, and difficulty getting air into the lungs. Sometimes the practitioner will feel a marked decrease in endurance or abdominal discomfort.
EIB makes it difficult for practitioners to exercise
These symptoms are very mild and are almost nothing to worry about, as they are simply a transient throbbing or tightness in the chest. But in more severe cases, EIB can cause the practitioner to stop practicing for breathing altogether. The most dangerous is the case of severe difficulty breathing, the practitioner must be given immediate emergency care to be able to breathe normally again.
How much exercise can make coughs happen?
Usually, it takes about 10 or 15 minutes of intense exercise before symptoms of EIB such as coughing or shortness of breath can occur. Any exercise that raises the heart rate can lead to EIB coughs, not just running. However, the ability of endurance sports such as running, swimming and triathlon will be higher than other sports.
EIB can also occur after doing sprints or circuit training without proper rest between sets.
Other possible reasons for cough during exercise other than EIB
- The air that the practitioner breathes in during exercise also contributes to coughs. For example, a smoky environment or animal hair in the air are easy causes of coughing.
- On dry days, the humidity in the air is lower than usual, making it easy for athletes to cough if they run fast. The reason is that the lungs don’t like moist air, so the trachea must moisten the airflow before it reaches the lungs. In the process, the trachea is prone to dryness and dehydration. When dry, the trachea will easily cause an itchy sensation that leads to coughing.
Running in dry weather is also a cause
How do practitioners know they have EIB?
If you have symptoms of EIB, whether mild or severe, you need to go to the nearest clinic or hospital for a diagnosis. Here, you will be tested for lung function and have medical measures if necessary.
Normally, lung performance is measured when you are relaxed and breathing normally. Then, the doctor will assign you to do light exercises such as jogging, cycling and conduct a lung exam again. If lung function decreases after exercise, you are more likely to have EIB.
How to deal with coughs during exercise?
Once diagnosed, you may be prescribed a throat spray, which opens the trachea wider, allowing more air to reach the lungs. The best way to use the spray is to spray two or three times 15 to 20 minutes before each training session. You should not wait until coughs appear to use. This method can help prevent sudden coughs during exercise, but to be on the safe side, you should still carry an extra spray and carry it with you during your workout just in case.
The spray only works to prevent EIB from occurring, not to treat the disease. Practitioners wait until they cough to use it, so the product only has a soothing effect. It is also an effective drug that can prevent EIB in 80 to 90% of users.
If the cough persists after using the spray, you should visit the clinic to find out more about the cause of the cough when running. Cough is a common symptom of problems such as laryngeal dysfunction, allergies, or acid reflux (a condition that requires abstaining from acidic foods and caffeine during treatment).
Throat spray is a popular and effective method
However, the practitioner can actively prevent it by increasing the intensity of the exercise slowly, which is both good for the joints and limits the sudden hard work of the lungs. For athletics, you can run or walk slowly and then speed up with the main running.
Reference source
Why exercise makes you cough https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19534227/exercise-induced-asthma-and-coughing/ Accessed: 23/06/2020
John Alen was born in 1971 and is a doctor in the healthcare and psychology fields with many years of experience. He is currently working at easyhealthylive.com, a leading health and psychology blog. Having studied at Y1 National Medical University named after IM Sechenov, John Alen is using his knowledge and experience to help improve the physical and mental health of people in the United States.
