Sneezing after exercise doesn't mean you're allergic to working out

It’s very common for people to experience post nasal drip during or after working out, especially as the weather starts to change for much of the nation. Wheezing or being short of breath while running outdoors can be a sign of post nasal drip and can get in the way of performing at your peak. Although this isn’t dangerous, it can lead to a sore throat or other illnesses.

For a lot of people, running in cold weather increases the chance of getting this uncomfortable feeling, because the dry air can cause sinuses to lose their moisture. According to Everyday Health, it isn’t usually an increased amount of mucus that causes the discomfort, but instead post nasal drip is caused by the mucus becoming too thick or an irritated throat.

According to Yahoo! this may be a symptom of exercise-induced rhinitis, which is an inflammation of the nasal passages. Even though exercise is good for the body, it can cause more stress for some people, which can lead to a runny or stuffy nose.

"Exercise can make you sneeze," Neil Kao, MD, an allergy and asthma specialist at the Allergic Disease and Asthma Center in Greenville, South Carolina, told WebMD. "You hyperventilate when you're over-exerted, and as a result, your nose and mouth start to dry up. So your nose reacts by starting to drip, making you sneeze."

There isn’t a direct cure for people who suffer from post nasal drip after running or exercising, but there are ways to cut down on it. For instance, using all-natural nasal sprays may help, as well as drinking plenty of fluids, cutting back on dairy intake, gargling with salt water and taking hot showers. Having reoccurring symptoms of post nasal drip may also lead to bad breath or other issues that can be resolved with a soothing nasal spray or antihistamines.