Running feels like drowning

[Ered_Lithui]

I have an issue that I hope someone here will have some advice about. (I wasn't sure if it should go here or in the Health Issues forum, but picked here because it's a running-specific query.) I would like to get into running, since it's a sport that requires little in the way of equipment when traveling. Plus, y'know, I have dreams of triathlons and such. The problem is, anytime I attempt to run or jog I hit a point within a quarter of a mile when my throat seems to fill with mucus. It's like post-nasal drip except it just stays there. Swallowing or drinking water doesn't do much to get rid of it.

I've mentioned this to other people (runners and not) and none of them seems to have a clue as to what I'm talking about. I've never been diagnosed with asthma or any other respiratory condition. And it's not something I face much in other activities.

When biking my throat might feel a bit congested after half an hour (sooner if it's been strenuous), but a few short swigs of water clears out my system and I can breathe again without issues for hours. When playing tennis or squash, there's periodic congestion after a while, but water helps. Swimming, hiking, and cross-country skiing are fine. It feels to me as though it has something to do with the vertical motion involved in running or racquet sports. My experience suggests the congestion might clear up over time as it does with other sports, but I simply can't keep going with that amount of mucus rattling around.

So, my questions: Does anyone know what's going on, and is there anything I can do to prevent it? Any input would be very appreciated.

Thanks!

[bmccasland]

Can you cough it up?

Are you sure you don't have EIA? Ever had a stress type respiratory function test?

One more stray thought - I seem to get more congested in the winter, and I see Ered Lithui you do live in the northern hemisphere - thus it's supposed to be "winter". Colder air hitting the warm air of your throat might be part of the problem.

[OakLeaf]

Is your head congested before you start your workout?

A workout often relieves congestion in my head, for a couple of reasons - vasomotor rhinorrhea makes all the secretions more fluid; immune suppression by exercise reduces allergic inflammation. But all the mucus that was there already has to go somewhere. I blow a lot of snot rockets, but I usually wind up swallowing some, too, depending on where in my sinuses it started out.

Does blowing snot rockets help? Have you seen an ENT?

[Ered_Lithui]

Thanks for the input! It does seem to be worse in colder weather as well as when I'm already a bit congested. I don't have much success trying to cough it up or blow a snot rocket, though. Maybe I'll try harder and see if it clears up.

I'd never really thought about the asthma possibility since it only seems triggered by running... but (after I googled "EIA" to figure out what it stood for!) the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma sound familiar. I was in a public health study a few months ago that included a lung function test, and my numbers were really low. But my doctor blew me off when I showed her the results and asked about them (one reason among many that I'm changing doctors!). I'll look into it. Thanks again!

[OakLeaf]

Okay, I think I experienced something like you're describing on my second-to-last long run and forgot to mention it here. It was later on in the run and the mucus in my head had gotten to be just that thick consistency where it kind of streamed down the back of my throat in a sheet. It was pretty uncomfortable.

If you haven't got this sorted yet - and if this is the same thing - I think irrigation before a run should help a lot, both by clearing out some of the goop and by moisturizing and thinning what's left.

[Grog]

Ered_Lithui, I feel your pain.

I have pretty severe post-nasal drip and what is probably exercise-induced asthma, although I refuse diagnosis and medication. I just run it out. Snot rockets really help, and I spit like a camel most of the time. Swallowing is NOT an option. As you mention, cold makes things worse. Running is generally worse than cycling, but I think it's only because I run a lot harder than I cycle.

It has never stopped me from running, except once, last week actually. I was congested and went for a tempo run. I had a great 5-minute segment and then my airways just became plugged with a blob of mucus (I can only imagine) and that was that, I tried running again but it didn't dissipate and I had a lot of trouble breathing.

I have found that being very hydrated really helps, as the mucus is more liquid, thus easier to dispose of. I was pretty dry on that specific morning where I had to stop running.

Presumably corticosteroids could help, but I refuse to take that kind of medication on a long term basis, so I just live with it. I suggest you see a family physician you trust and discuss this, maybe even a GP who works with athletes.