Pursuiter's Cough

[RoadRaven]

With the recent discussion here about asthma I started wondering if any of you ever get "pursuiter's cough"

I was told this is what I get after a hard training ride, a hill workout or a race... but I have found very little out about it

A few hours after such rides I get a dry, deep seated cough... its not a chest cough, its not a high-up tickle... but it almost sounds like I should have the flu.

For those who don't know (like me til a few weeks ago) upon investigation (though as I say there seems very little about it) this is what I understand about pursuiters cough...

After physical exertion (doesn't have to be cycling... other sports such as running will do it) where one breaths heavily though the mouth (yup, thats me - controlled deep heavy breathing...) the rush of air and effort actually causes what seems to be described as something akin to an abrasion at the base of your throat...

So you get a "graze" down deep inside - apparently too low/deep for coff lozenges/medicines to work.

And so you cough... for me, this is an occaisional coff, which may last a few hours in the evening, though sometimes it takes 2-3 days to shake it...

I was wondering if anyone else got this, what your experience is, and any way you have found to ease it or shake it early.

At times I almost sound like I have put considerable investment into a nicoteine habit!

[CorsairMac]

I get that when I exercise hard in the cold. In my case they call it spasming asthma, I'm not a wheezer, I'm a cougher who once I start I can't stop until it becomes croup and then bronchitis. The things I've done that seem to help is: keep my mouth covered when I know I"m going to be doing deep, heavy breathing with my mouth open, use my inhaler as soon as possible after I'm done with the exertion, and drink warm fluids. The inhaler helps to keep the airways clear more than stop the cough, the fluids soothe the airways and they seem to help the cough. Sometimes I'll heat up orange juice or lemonade and drink that. Just anything warm. Also, believe it or not (this came from my allergist) take Benedryl. It's a downer and helps to keep the passages relaxed and slow the coughing down. She also recommended Chloroseptic (don't know if you have that over there). It's a numbing spray/tablet for your throat. The reasoning is: you're coughing coz something isn't right in your throat and your body is trying to dispel it the only way it knows how. Unless you can "turn off" the signals, your body will keep trying to get rid of whatever it thinks is wrong.

[Dianyla]

My exercise induced asthma primarily manifests itself as that dry cough after working out. Only if I push myself way over the limit do I actually get to the point of whooping/wheezing.

I recently found an herbal tea that helps, Breathe Deep by Yogi Tea. The ingredients are:
licorice root, basil leaf, eucalyptus leaf, ginger root, cinnamon bark, thyme leaf, elecampane root, peppermint leaf, cardamom seed, mullein leaf

I believe the primary herbs are the eucalyptus, elecampane, and mullein, but all of them combine to be soothing and mucus clearing.

[Musclicious505]

Wow - I havent been cycling for long but I noticed as soon as I started riding longer and faster that I definately am very hoarse for a few days after. It sounds like I have a mild case of laryngitis - and I really dont have allergies either. I have really been making an effort to be really hydrated all the time and that seems to ease it a little. I thought I was the only one this happened to......

[RoadRaven]

Hi all, thanks for the replies...

I have had asthma occasionally when my hayfever is "extra-bad"
And as a child I suffered bronchitis every winter

This is different

Thanks Dianyla, I will look out for this combination of tea at the supermarket - don't recognise "yogi tea" as a brand name over here.

Corsair, this doesn't seem to be affected by hot or cold, wet or dry days... it seems to hook straight into the exertion I expend... I have tried cycling with my mouth covered, but just feel hot and claustrophobic...

There is nothing in my throat... nothing "coughs" itself up and there is no sensation of anything but 'dry'... I guess that is because it is described as a graze - i guess further breathing (as i hope I continue to do even after I have finished exercise ) must irritate, kind've like that dry hacking cough you get at night with the flu... but nothing seems to work as far as lozenges go...

Will persevere with warm drinks...

Good to know I'm not alone, though I would not wish this on any, it is such a nuisance...

[runnergirl]

Wow. So that's what it is!

I get a tickling cough everytime I ride really hard. It's only after a hammer till I puke kinda ride, and I haven't had it in a while. It usually goes away by the next morning, but it can be annoying.

[RoadRaven]

Wow. So that's what it is!

I get a tickling cough everytime I ride really hard. It's only after a hammer till I puke kinda ride, and I haven't had it in a while. It usually goes away by the next morning, but it can be annoying.

Yes!!!
Yes!!!
Thats me!!!

[Hillandale]

I had similar problems with a hard cough which would start immediately after a hard hill climb, and continue indefinitely, for several days or longer. I had wheezing with it. I tried treating with a couple of different inhalers with partial relief.
Then one day I was talking to a pulmonologist who heard me cough and told me it was from reflux. She explained that when I was pumping up a hill, I was generating increased abdominal pressure, and forcing stomach acid high enough to spill into my bronchial tube. This was then irritated, so I would cough. The coughing in turn caused spasms of increased abdominal pressure and resultant acid reflux, which kept the cycle going. She recommended a course of OTC acid blocker, (eg., Prilosec). This relieved the coughing.
It has also helped to learn how to climb hills better, keeping my breathing relaxed and even, so I don't have the initial relux. I can still get a bit irritated, but nothing like before.

[RoadRaven]

I think its more like Musclicious and RunnerGirl describe for me...

Its a hard coff, yes, but sporadic... and I don't get wheezing with it.
The few descriptions I have found don't include wheezing... so maybe that is a combination of pursuiters coff with asthma?

Certainly doesn't feel at all like reflux to me, Hillendale, and my coff isn't similar to when I have had reflux and/or indigestion.

Am finding this thread fascinating - thanks for your responses

[Hillandale]

I was skeptical about the reflux at first, too, because I had no symptoms of it that I recognised. I was aware of a searing pain up the center of my chest while I was climbing, preceding the cough, but attributed it to airway drying and irritation. I think now it was probably that first rush of acid causing the burning.

[bikerHen]

Yep, I get it too! For me it's pushing way to hard up a hill and breathing, or trying to breath, with my mouth wide open. You said a "graze" at the back of the throat, that's the perfect description! The last time it happened I cough for about 10 minutes straight at the top of a hill. It was a hard make you gag and pee in your pants type cough! No amount of water will soothe it and for me it lasts a good 24 hours. I'll try some of the cures mentioned next time.

Glad to have a name to put with it. Makes me feel better that it's not just because I'm out of shape. Bikerhen

[ohmyspokes]

I definitely get pursuiter's cough when I race track, especially on low-humidity days. And I hear many others clearing their throats and making little tickle coughs, too. I don't get it as much when road racing, though.

[SalsaMTB]

I definitely get it also when I push hard on a ride. It will happen after the ride for a few hours, but I have had it go for a couple days. It's mainly on the inhale and it makes me cough. I just figured it was because I was breathing so hard during the ride.

[wabisabi]

Thanks for looking into this! I also get a cough, particularly after a hard ride, or a century. I rode a charity ride yesterday, only 62 miles but several long hills, and I had the cough last night. You are right, it sounds like a smoker's cough, and sometimes I get a little hoarse also.

[RoadRaven]

Very interesting to see so many of us know this...

I wonder why there is so little about it in books or on the net...

I wish there was a way to stop the coffing (she coffs, a hard ride yesterday still lingering on...) but nothing I have tried (from this thread or from the chemist) seems to fix it...

Guess I will have to "wear" the coff proudly, as I do my interesting tan lines...