Running is a great decongestant

[wdwmagic]

Anyone noticed how great running is for decongesting a cold or allergies? As long as the cold doesn't completely knock you off your feet I find that a good run is a fantastic decongestant. Although the effects only last a few hours, but for a while it's great.

 

[JillC LI]

I posted this exact thing yesterday in response to the question about whether to run with a stuffy head cold. I said I usually feel better after a run than I did beforehand (although that does not apply to a chest cold).

 

[Master Yoda]

While I am not a runner, I have noticed that pretty much any physical activity that increases your breathing rate helps with congestion. I get wicked sinus headaches and even something as simple as mowing the lawn tends to bring me as much more more relief than medication.

The only thing you will want to be wary of is combining a decongestant with exercise. Most decongestants raise your heart rate. That coupled with vigorous exercise can be a bad mix.

 

[Texas84]

When it's really cold, yes, but not in our southern US summer humidity. It's like swimming. Check out the ToT reports from last year.

 

[bethram]

I will ran this morning and I did not have anything more than a slightly runny nose for most of the morning. Now I'm back to a full on stuffy nose. I definitely does not help the coughing! I don't cough much while running, but I can't stop coughing for quite a while afterward.

 

[joel_maxwell]

Yes, Steve. If you can master the "Farmer Ted" process, it really does make any kind of head problems, even headaches for me, go away. It all makes sense if you think about it.

While I am not a runner, I have noticed that pretty much any physical activity that increases your breathing rate helps with congestion. I get wicked sinus headaches and even something as simple as mowing the lawn tends to bring me as much more more relief than medication.

The only thing you will want to be wary of is combining a decongestant with exercise. Most decongestants raise your heart rate. That coupled with vigorous exercise can be a bad mix.

Very true Richard. I stray from all medications unless it is absolutely necessary. I use saline spray in my nasal passages almost daily. I do take a daily off brand Claritin (which I guess is medication) but have never experienced the few side effects of irregular heart beat, or increased HR. Living in the south, it is almost a lifeline. LOL

When it's really cold, yes, but not in our southern US summer humidity. It's like swimming. Check out the ToT reports from last year.

Have you tried saline? I spray it in the morning if need be and at night before bed (especially after being outside and working in the yard.

 

[Master Yoda]

Very true Richard. I stray from all medications unless it is absolutely necessary. I use saline spray in my nasal passages almost daily. I do take a daily off brand Claritin (which I guess is medication) but have never experienced the few side effects of irregular heart beat, or increased HR. Living in the south, it is almost a lifeline. LOL

Claritin by itself is an antihistamine (loratadine). Claritin D contains the antihistamine Loratadine and the decongestant pseudoephedrine sulfate. Loratadine by itself is fine. Pseudoephedrine sulfate is not as it is a stimulant similar to Sudafed.

 

[Texas84]

Have you tried saline? I spray it in the morning if need be and at night before bed (especially after being outside and working in the yard.

The only thing that goes up my nose is my finger

 

[Master Yoda]

Have you tried saline? I spray it in the morning if need be and at night before bed (especially after being outside and working in the yard.

I am not aware of any studies on saline, but I do know of a few on the use of the Neti Pot which is similar. It works in terms of a sinus congestion and in prevention of chronic sinus infections, but with an exception. In regards to chronic sinus infections, you can use it too much causing worse and/or more frequent sinus infections. If you use it too much you wash away too much mucus and leave yourself completely unprotected to bacteria and viruses. The magic number seems to be no more than 3 times per week. I would assume that saline spay can be used more frequently as the volume of water going through your sinuses is drastically less.

 

[joel_maxwell]

Claritin by itself is an antihistamine (loratadine). Claritin D contains the antihistamine Loratadine and the decongestant pseudoephedrine sulfate. Loratadine by itself is fine. Pseudoephedrine sulfate is not as it is a stimulant similar to Sudafed.

Correct. I do not use the D off brand... just a non drowsy antihistamine.

The only thing that goes up my nose is my finger

You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you cant pick your friends nose.

I am not aware of any studies on saline, but I do know of a few on the use of the Neti Pot which is similar. It works in terms of a sinus congestion and in prevention of chronic sinus infections, but with an exception. In regards to chronic sinus infections, you can use it too much causing worse and/or more frequent sinus infections. If you use it too much you wash away too much mucus and leave yourself completely unprotected to bacteria and viruses. The magic number seems to be no more than 3 times per week. I would assume that saline spay can be used more frequently as the volume of water going through your sinuses is drastically less.

Yes, i just use it when I feel like they need hydrating and they are starting to get "clogged". I have narrow passages. I had surgery on them in 1996. It helped, but the slightest bit of "dirt" can completely stop my nose up and I am down to one nostril, or mouth breathing. So, the saline helps loosen the dirt and I breath better within the hour.

I use to neti pot, but I felt like it was doing more harm then good even at 2 times a week. Makes sense after your comments.

 

[JillC LI]

I will ran this morning and I did not have anything more than a slightly runny nose for most of the morning. Now I'm back to a full on stuffy nose. I definitely does not help the coughing! I don't cough much while running, but I can't stop coughing for quite a while afterward.

Yeah, I occasionally get a post nasal allergy drip which makes me cough like crazy except while I'm running. I cough like a fiend right after I stop though.

 

[6laurac]

Every since I had my daughter, I have been taking Zyrtec every day and I run every two to three days but when I'm out there I am less congested.