Coughing after finishing a ride...

[BeeLady]

I get a cough sometimes after an intense ride. I'm probably wrong but I like to believe it is caused by parts of my lungs being used that don't usually get used and my body is just clearing out any "debris" that is getting into the normally unused nooks and crannies.

As a former long-time heavy smoker (no cigarettes in 18 years), I will take an exercised-induced minor cough any day compared to the coughs I had when I quit smoking (and couldn't exercise much).

[OakLeaf]

I get a cough sometimes after an intense ride. I'm probably wrong but I like to believe it is caused by parts of my lungs being used that don't usually get used and my body is just clearing out any "debris" that is getting into the normally unused nooks and crannies.

I get something like that on rare occasions. When I haven't done anything very intense aerobically in a while, then I do a really hard run or hill climb, especially if I've been sick or exposed to a lot of allergens.

I also attribute it to clearing out the clogged alveoli. I have just a touch of asthma. Do you get a productive cough - with a very stale taste - and a burning sensation deep in your lungs? Someone would have to come up with some very definitive information to convince me that that isn't what's going on.

[coyote]

It is possible that the coughing is do to really dry weather. It should get better as it gets warmer. The warm air holds a bit more moisture. Or it could be related to thermal inversions.

[Blueberry]

I also attribute it to clearing out the clogged alveoli. I have just a touch of asthma. Do you get a productive cough - with a very stale taste - and a burning sensation deep in your lungs? Someone would have to come up with some very definitive information to convince me that that isn't what's going on.

That's the best description I've seen for what happens to me. My Doc keeps saying it's exercise induced asthma, and prescribing inhalers. They don't seem to help. It particularly happens in cold, dry weather. This makes sense...

CA

[IFjane]

I get one - not all the time and I cannot ever predict when it will happen, but after a long, hard ride (nothing like a TT or anything like that, though - usually one with a lot of climbing that makes me breathe hard). I get a cough that can last as much as 24 hours. The best way for me to describe it is that I have a tickle way down in my throat that won't go away. If I try to take a deep breath, I cough! It is almost like my chest is constricted slightly and that causes the tickle. I do not have exercise-induced asthma....though I was mis-diagnosed as having it a few years ago.

[Nokomis]

I get this really bad in cold weather riding. I've ended up wearing a Buff over my mouth & nose, or more recently picked up a mask with cutouts for nostrils & mouth - helps keep my breath warm & moist. Have to adjust at every stop to prevent the glasses from fogging over, but it's helped significantly on the road.

That, and I look darn intimidating. ha!

[Sheesh]

I got this after cross races. My husband and I call it "cross cough" because you can hear it after all of the races. It seems like more people get it than not. I think for us it's a combination of pushing ourselves really hard and the cold weather of fall.