Sometimes after a run in the open air it happens to sneeze. Especially if this happens in winter, or as a result of an effort that has produced a rather high sweating, we tend to attribute this phenomenon to sudden changes in terms.
However, it happens to sneeze even while doing sports indoors and this indicates that the climatic causes are not the only ones responsible for the phenomenon.
In fact, there are several reasons that can lead to repeated sneezing after having performed a workout.
and sneezing, the reason is most likely allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever.
Allergic rhinitis is an excessive reaction of the immune system, which is triggered by contact with allergens dispersed in the environment. It is a rather common phenomenon, which affects more than one in five people. In addition to sneezing, the symptoms that can occur simultaneously are runny nose, congested sinuses, itchy eyes and nasal drip.
In most cases it develops from childhood onwards, but it can occur at any time.
Usually it is caused by pollens, which can be of different types: grasses, the most common, plants (especially hazel and birch) and weeds, such as ragweed or mugwort.
Most of the pollen is released into the air in spring, but there are also summer and autumn manifestations of this phenomenon, which derives from the timing of flowering.
When it's hot, it's best to choose a low-intensity workout.
Pollution
If the sport session following which you sneeze is carried out in particularly dense and busy urban centers, another trigger could be exposure to smog or car exhaust, which can be very harmful.
in which sports are not particularly healthy places, a reaction of the body to mold spores or to some types of fungi, the latter particularly prolific in humid environments, may develop.
Allergy to dust mites and animal hair
Dust is always lurking, even she has cleaned her house shortly before. Precisely for this reason, especially in people prone to allergic rhinitis, it can happen to sneeze during or after training. In particular, doing abdominals on the ground or on a dusty carpet can trigger the physical reaction.
The same thing can be true for the hair of pets, to which many people are sensitive, and some are quite allergic. If you sneeze especially in the vicinity of dogs and cats, this cause should therefore be seriously considered.
o the particular sensitivity to certain elements are not the only triggers of post workout sneezing.In fact, if we exclude these factors, another option could be to have non-allergic rhinitis, a condition that for most people does not develop until the age of 20.
Non-allergic rhinitis is an "inflammation of the nasal mucosa, symptoms of which can include repeated sneezing, coughing, stuffy nose, and runny nose. Unlike hay fever, however, non-allergic rhinitis does not usually cause itchy nose. throat or around the eyes.
Various factors can trigger it, including exposure to chemicals such as fumes from household cleaning products, atmospheric changes, mechanical factors, certain medications, hormonal changes and particularly intense odors.
In addition, some people are particularly sensitive to direct sun exposure after spending time indoors. In these people when the passage occurs, the nerves in the nasal cavity overreact to changes in the optic nerve and cause sneezing. .
Exercise-induced rhinitis may exist
According to a study published in the November 2018 edition of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, one sub-category of non-allergic rhinitis may well be exercise-induced rhinitis. This correlation is currently still under study, but early research indicates that there are several athletes who, while not suffering from allergies or showing particular environmental sensitivities, show nasal discomfort, such as sneezing, especially after training.
, antihistamines and corticosteroid sprays.However, before taking any action it is essential to contact your doctor to have a precise diagnosis and a consequent subsequent strategy.