Sneezing and running nose after intense cardio workout

Why do I sneeze uncontrolably follow by none stop running nose after a intense cardio workout.

Could you be allergic to something in your workout environment? Does it happen every time?

I actually just started working out a month ago and it was like that for the first couple cardio sessions then I was fine. Then the past week I didn't work out at all until today.  It started again almost 40 minutes into my elliptical workout. Got worst after I left the gym. Its non stop sneezing and running nose.

I travel quite often and uses different gyms in the hotels I stay at and had this happen for the first week I started working out in every single gym I use. So, I don't think its the gym.

I am wondering if it has anything to do with the way i'm taking in air when I'm pushing my self too hard and can't catch my breath.

Has this ever happen to anyone?

The description you gave (sneezing, uncontrollably runny nose) seems to match an allergic reaction. Is there any shampoo or something else that you use only around when you are working out? Some clothing that you only wear then?

If you think it has to do with how you breathe, then decrease the intensity of the workout and take slow deep breaths throughout and see if it still happens.

This happens to me too and my throat gets quite itchy, i do suffer from lots of allergies but happens no matter where i am exercising....almost feel like i am allergic to exercise....have googled it using loads of possible search word combos and it doesn't come up with much unfortunately...but will keep investigating and if i get an answer i will post it (and hopefully a cure or at least something to calm it down a bit!)!

I also have a runny nose a lot when exercising,  although I think it is because the room my treadmill is in is cold. I'm not sure about the sneezing, but like others said it could be an allergy.  Also maybe since you are breathing heavier when exercising more things/allergens go into your sinuses than usual and that causes sneezing?? Just a guess.

I am having this exact same problem!!  I work out pretty intensly and have been for about a year.  Never have had this problem.  I had a chest cold a few weeks ago and it cleared up in a few days.  Last weekend I did intense cardio workout with no problems and then went to my car and began sneezing uncontrollably and had a runny nose the rest of the night.  I mean really bad runny nose.  I thought my cold was back!  But luckily it wasn't and the runny nose cleared by morning.  Wierd... Well today, I did a really intense cardio work out... ran a mile in 6 minutes (woo hoo to me!) and as soon as I gt off the treadmill, the same thing.  Sneeze sneeze sneeze!  My nose has been so runny ever since and really tingly.  I worked out at 2 different gyms so being allergic to something in the air is unlikely... plus I work out there all the time.  The mucous is clear (for al of you who wanted to know).

 

Crazy.  Perhaps we are allergic to cardio 

I have this same problem TOO! I tend to go on a weight-loss/exercise kick about every 3 years.  I just diet and run/walk on the tredmill for 30 minutes.  I just started to get on the tredmill again after 3 years, I have been on it 7 times and EVERY single time I get off my nose is itchy and I can't stop sneezing and the amount of clear mucus that FLOODS out of my nose is nuts!  I exercise in my house, and the allergies ONLY happen after I get off the tredmill.  And I have to breath out of my  mouth because if I breath out of my nose it will set off a chain of sneezing and will run forever.  I don't know what to do, I took a claritin for the first time after getting off the tredmill today, and it's not helping.  So strange......I would LOVE an answer for this!

This started happening to me about 2 years ago. I've lived in the same place for several years and have run the same place without problems.

I'm fine when running but start sneezing within 10 minutes of my runs. Sometimes it continues into the next day.

I've switched locations, changed times and a bunch of other things. Just when I think I've found a place and time when the sneezing will be minimized, it comes back like always. Breathing through the mouth helps a little but I still sneeze bad.

I've tried claritin and other store remedies but nothing works and can't find much on the internet.

 

Could you be allergic to the cleaner they use on the equipment? 

I asked my dr. about this.  She did not have much of a diagnosis for me.  She did suggest taking Afrin before a run though in order constrict the sinus??

I have this same problem.  It only happens to me when the weather is cold.  It doesn't start for me until after I stop running, and it's really bad if I run outside.  I thought it only happened outside, but recently it's been happening when I run on the treadmill too.  It's crazy and I'm on day 2 of the most ridiculous runny nose and sneezing fits.

I'm not certain if this has anything to do with it, but I do have exercise induced asthma, which I don't need medication for; and this only seems to happen when I REALLY push myself hard with intervals.

If anyone figures it out or finds an answer I'd love to know.  The constant drip from my nose is extremely irritating, and exercise prohibitive!

I am having the same exact problem! I just ran 3.5 miles (which is intense for me) and I am currently breathing out of my mouth so I don't sneeze every few mins. My nose is tingeling like crazy right now and it will continue for at least day. I have never had allergies prior to this so I called my doctor. They are not much help but I they did put me on allegra D and if I take it a few hours before my workouts I am better. I forgot to take it today so I am suffering bad. If anyone finds any info on this strange allergy, please post it. 

At least we are not alone.

Hi alll, I just found this on the internet - very helpful, sounds like this is our problem!

There are a group of conditions wherein exercise induces allergic or related symptoms. Exercise-induced hives are fairly common (see post on Exercise & Fitness board: http://boards.webmd.com/webx?THDX@@.89a7de09!thdchild=.89a7de09 ). Exercise-induced asthma is extremely common. It sounds as though you may have exercise-induced rhinitis (rhinitis being the medical term for inflammation of the nose).

Here's an abstract of a very recent professional article on these syndromes: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mksg/al l/2008/00000063/00000008/art00001

The culprit behind exercise-induced hives and rhinitis is histamine, best known as the allergy chemical. However, histamine is released in the body for many normal, non-allergic functions. Typical symptoms due to too much histamine include itching, sneezing, and runny nose. One could speculate that because running and rowing are very intense aerobic activities, your body produces a lot of histamine at those times, as opposed to the more moderately aerobic stairmaster and elliptical sessions.

What you could do is to try taking a non-drowsy OTC antihistamine like Zyrtec about an hour before running or rowing, to see if it helps prevent your symptoms. (I prefer Zyrtec, as it has a fast onset of action and is stronger than Claritin.) You may have to take it daily for about a week to ensure that the antihistamine reaches maximum effectiveness. And antihistamines work best if taken preventatively, so taking them before the onset of your symptoms is a better idea than taking them after you start sneezing. If the antihistamine helps, it is very likely that the reaction is histamine mediated.

A consultation with an allergist would be a good idea, to get allergy tested and also to give you information on how best to manage this condition.

Hopefully this information helps you out.

Whenever I play basketball over at my alma mater, I have this same issue. This time I still have it, even the next day. I guess I have some theories about this.

 

1) Common cold. When you exercise, presumably your immune system goes down. There are constantly things like the cold that are trying to break into your system. If your immune system becomes weakened in some way, such as exercising, particularly if you have not had enough sleep lately or are deficient in some vitamins or whatever, I imagine that this could open the door enough for the cold to storm in and hit you.

2) Alergies. Normally we breathe pretty shallow. If you start breathing heavy I imagine that's going to let in more alergens, and push it past a threshold where your system triggers a response. This seems plausible but, on the other hand, I've had allergy attacks and boy, they are nothing like this. With alergies I get all stopped up... with this, it was just like sneezing mixed with clear fluid almost like water coming out of my nose for hours in big drops. Weird.

3) Rhinitis, as detailed in the scientific article from the link that was posted above. This is an interesting theory, but... why does it only happen to me when I play at that one gym, and not when I play at a park? Why did I suddenly develop this later in life? To me this is a convenient classification of the symptom without dealing with the cause. Sure, I have this condition, but why? Admittedly I did not read the article, don't have $49.95 to spare LOL.

4) Strange environmental factors. This could be similar to 2) above. But think about it, what are some other things about your lifestyle...? What did you eat that day? Drink coffee? Take a medication? How much sleep did you get? Did you have a water bottle? Do you use that same water bottle each time you work out? Did you over-extend yourself during the work-out at any point, and feel overly tired/light-headed/have chest pains/tightness of the chest/weird taste in your mouth/etc.? Did you drink out of a public fountain? Part of me thinks that perhaps the body purges toxins during exercise, and in doing so those toxins could be causing this histamine reaction, or possibly they are being purged via the nose and then once it starts purging it does not stop until they're out, but I dunno -- just a thought...

My girlfriend has the same problem as described by everyone here.  Her ENT couldn't diagnose it but suggested she use a nasal spray called Astelin (azelastine HCl) prior to running and it seemed to help, though it's hard to remember to do it every time.

That is exactly what happens to me.  But it has only happened at college.  I live in the same town as my university and I played basketball outdoors there today, and my nose is itchy/tingly, probably have sneezed 100 times since 7:30.  The only other times it happened was after intramural basketball, but that is indoors in a gymnasium.  Today I played outdoors.  Very confusing.  I play basketball all the time throughout the year and this has only happened about 5-8 times.  It's not even every time I play there just enough to be very annoying.

I thought at first that it might be that I got dirt or something logged in my nose which was irritating me but after reading these, I might take some claritin before I play there again.  I don't have any allegies really, maybe just a runny nose in the morning, but that clears up by the time I leave my house normally.  

Lets hope someone is investigating this rare condition lol.

It has never happened to me, but, as you say, this might be the way you're taking in air... I used to watch TV online shows teaching how to work out right. I learned that breathing is very important while working out, try not pushing yourself too hard and breathe even, I think it's gonna help.

This has just started happening to me.  It happened last week after a 6 mile treadmill run and it happened today after a 3 mile outdoor run.  It did not happen for my 10 mile outdoor run that I did between these two runs.  My nose is itching - almost feels like there are burrs inside the nose and I am sneezing and having a very runny nose with clear discharge.  I am training for a 1/2 marathon and can not afford to have this happen every day I train.  I just took 2 Benadryl and take Zyrtex every night.  I don't know what else to do  BTW the Benadryl is not really helping right now.  Anybody have any suggestions.  I am miserable.

This happens to me too :(

Count me in as well!  I just finished an intense run outside, really pushing, and the weather was a bit chilly.  I am now sneezing and the nose is running like crazy.  I was fine before the run, not sick at all.  And as far as I know, I don't have any allergies.  This is crazy!