Sneezing attacks??

[silver]

Anyone else develop sneezing attacks after riding in the cold? Every week or so I develop a sneezing attack after riding or running in the cold. My nose drips and I sneeze hundreds of times. This usually lasts the rest of the day and sometimes a little into the next day.

It must be some kind of irritation in my nose to the cold. I'm going to take some benedryl and go to bed now.

Anyone else get this and what do you do?

[andtckrtoo]

I have that happen when I ride or hike in areas that have things I'm allergic to - like Ponderosa pines (which was a real pain when I lived in New Mexico!). Might be something in the air you can find only this time of year. Cold does not affect that me that. My nose runs, but I don't sneeze like that, and it stops as soon as I come home.

I find that Claritin helps when it's allergy related. If Benedryl helps, consider some kind of allergy meds. But man, it wiped me out! I was pretty miserable for about 24 hours.

[Miranda]

It's an allergy attack. It's to something other than the cold itself. A tree, mold spores in the air, etc. You are working hard to suck more air in as you ride/exercise, so you get more of it than just standing still breathing normal.

We are the house of allergies and asthma here. This happens to me periodically. Awful. You just can't stop sneezing! Your body is saying "I do not like this and by sneezing maybe I can get rid of it!". Sorta like choking on something that would be obstructing your airway.

Only when your immune system is crazy confused allergic/overaly sensitive, it doesn't stop at the norm... and then can keep up it's protest for the day.

It's a release of hystamine in your body... the Benadryl is an ANTI-hystamine, and helps with the reaction. Some allergy meds have properties called "hystamine blockers" that are suppose to prevent the sneezing overly sensitive attack from occuring in the first place.

If you know what things you are allergic too, you can try and plan around it to reduce the reaction. We have all had a test called the "scratch test". It's where they stick a bunch of needles in your back with various stuff and see which ones swell up or cause a reaction. There are also allergy blood test panels for this. Process of elimination is another stone age approach (IMHO) that some docs use to figure out what you are alergic too.

We are signed up on an allergy web site that emails me the stats locally of air pollen measurements. Certain times of day the pollen counts are higher or lower. Dry and windy conditions make pollen travel further like from trees and be more. A rain helps the tree pollen (knocks it down). But a rain generally stirs up the mold spores. Thus why it's helpful to know exactly what you are allergic too. I use this right along with Weather.com and wind speed to plan my ride sometimes.

Also, keeping the car windows closed and using the air re-circulate buttons helps. If you use the vent, or have the windows down, you are blowing that allergic air straight into your face at a speed way faster than you bike travels... what speed the car is doing.

Use A/C in the house and keeping the windows closed helps to keep outside air pollen out of your house too. Lastly, simply changing your pillow case more, or rinsing your hair before bed helps. Otherwise, you have a ton of pollen particles in your hair, you lay down on your bed pillow, and suck air all night long with what you are allergic to right in your face. Not good.

Hope you are better.

[OakLeaf]

There are basically no outdoor allergens in Indiana this time of year.

It's possible you have a cold allergy - that was just discussed here not long ago. There's an easy skin test for it. Usually it manifests itself first in skin symptoms, but it wouldn't surprise me if sneezing is possible. If you test positive, and if you don't already carry an Epi-pen and use the buddy system, please do so!

You might also try wearing a balaclava that covers your nose and mouth, to try to warm the air a little more. It's pretty difficult to do anything aerobic wearing a real mask...

Hope you get it sorted Silver.

[Mr. Bloom]

There are basically no outdoor allergens in Indiana this time of year.

I would agree...except for the field with freshly laid Turkey Manure! EEEEKKKK! It's like the dead skunk you pass...but stays with you for a mile!

Also, yesterday was a very windy day and she was riding through hilly woods. Blowing road dust, mold spores from the mulching leaves, etc...there are more histamines than we would like.

Funny story: She was getting in my freshly washed car last night and had an unexpected sneeze come on - with both hand full - She freshly sprayed my freshly washed window

[sundial]

Silver, try wearing a buff over your nose to filter cold air and pollens.

Mr. Silver's car--LOL!