Spitting - first 10 miles of a cycle ride...

[koro]

Hi,

Hard to explain, but here goes....

Whenever I start exercise, I am forever having to spit out every few minutes. Untill, ( I think I`m empty, and then no problems then on after). When cycling the first 10 miles it hurts, lungs especially. Spitting every couple of minutes, after approx 10 miles, I feel good, breathing is good and I can do the next 40-50 no problems. I try to warm up before exercise, but cant get rid of the need to spit. The problem I have now, is that I am begining to cycle with a couple of mates, kind of embarrasing when I need to empty a mouthfull. Do you think it may be a diet problem, or would you have any suggestions on how to help with my problem?

Cheers

ps I not that fit in that I would want to do a 10 mile ride before I start

 

[jimboalee]

Before you go out.

Lie on the floor face up. Take a few REALLY deep breaths. After five or so REALLY deep breaths, push your fist up your diaphragm to squeeze the lungs.

You should cough up a lump of sputum. Spit it into your hand and inspect its colour.

White, no problem.
Green, OK but be careful.
Yellow, you have an infection.

 

[koro]

Before you go out.

Lie on the floor face up. Take a few REALLY deep breaths. After five or so REALLY deep breaths, push your fist up your diaphragm to squeeze the lungs.

You should cough up a lump of sputum. Spit it into your hand and inspect its colour.

White, no problem.
Green, OK but be careful.
Yellow, you have an infection.

The lumps that I bring up are white, the need to keep spitting seems to go at the same time my breathing comes good... problem is thats at about 10 miles of hard exercise. Do you think its a case of general fitness, diet, or is something that I can do limit this?

Thanks for replying, much appreciated

 

[the_mikey]

I used to have that problem, but for the last two years I've been swimming at the local pool at least 3 nights a week, I get good excersise and I don't have any problems breathing or neededing to cough too much when I get on my bike.

 

[zacklaws]

I would'nt worry too much about spitting, I do it a lot actually but never think about it, if your concerned, just say "bloody flies". Nobody seems to care when you see footballers etc gobbing when there on telly. Its just one of those things, unless there is a medical background to it, then thats differen.

But is it Phlegm or saliva that your spittting?

 

[koro]

I would'nt worry too much about spitting, I do it a lot actually but never think about it, if your concerned, just say "bloody flies". Nobody seems to care when you see footballers etc gobbing when there on telly. Its just one of those things, unless there is a medical background to it, then thats differen.

But is it Phlegm or saliva that your spittting?

Hi it`s flem that I`m spitting, as i said it`s ok after about 10miles, my breathing is better then too. The problem seems to be worse in cold weather.. I`m 45 years old now, when I was way fitter in my 20`s, if I exercised, once I made myself sick I would be ok afterwards ( prob not a good idea cycling with others)

Thanks for your responses

 

[Garz]

I do this and it's the body's way of ridding the rubbish out of your respiratory system. I did have an operation as a youngster on my nose/tonsils, and do suffer from hayfever during summer. I wouldnt worry about it.

 

[zacklaws]

Just bear in mind that its one of our bodies functions and as garz says, its the bodies way of getting rid of rubbish out of your system, I bet that once upon a time when man walked on the planet many years ago, he would probably just have had a dump where he stood without batting an eyelid in front of others, just like a cow in a field, and nobody could have cared less. If you think spitting's a taboo, then it will prey on your mind, so long as its for a reason and not an habit as you sometimes see some people spit about once a minute.

 

[ventoux50]

If for most of the time you are fairly sedentary e.g. sit at a desk/in a car etc during work hours and then you go for a ride - the exercise obviously requires you to breathe more deeply to obtain the oxygen your muscles need to work efficiently....

At rest (or when sedentary) the lungs only need to fill with sufficent air to fuel the (much fewer) muscle which are working, therefore the volume of air you inhale is smaller and the deeper areas of the lungs do not get fully ventilated, the natural secretions are bound by the laws of gravity and the sticky phlegm type secretions tend to congregate at the bottom of the alveoli (minute air sacs inside the lungs.)

Normally this isn't a problem unless you develop an infection - which you would soon identify by the usual signs - raised temperature - green/yellow smelly phlegm, and general dificulty breathing etc.


However in your case it seems to be the normal secretions which you are mobilising as you open up the alveoli, the body has a natural mechanism of ridding the phlegm from the body - it basically sends it up a conveyor belt of fine hairs and by the cough reflex the 'gunk' arrives in your mouth - you then have 2 conscious options - swallow or spit !

Spitting while not pleasant is the usual way for most of us on bikes, just give your mates a warning if you can though !

There are breathing exercises you can perform prior to riding to get the gunk moving:

1 take a really deep breath right into the bottom of your lungs, hold it and close your mouth, then sniff in through the nose a few times until you physically cant get any more air in - then release and breathe normally.

2 breathe normally and on breathing out really force the air out of your lungs - to the very last gasps - then breathe normally again !

3. Posture can help drain the lungs as well - you could try this - preferably with the curtains closed ! - stand behind the settee facing the back, lean forwards over the back and allow your feet to come off the floor so that your torso is 'upside down' head on the seat cushions. Hold this position for as long as is comfortable, try to breathe deeply...... this should again allow gravity to do the job and may help to get the stuff moving.
Just be careful when you stand up - all the blood will rush from your head and you may feel dizzy !

Hope this helps - having said all this if you're still concerned of course visit the GP and ask about lung function testing/screening to rule out anything else.

 

[Firestorm]

Do you eat/drink a lot of dairy produce ? I used to have this problem years ago when I was doing a lot of running , then I cut back, no milk butter and cut back on the cheese , soya milk on cereal , and it sorted it . Its not a full blown intolerance, just a slight sensitivity

 

[aoj]

Hi,

Hard to explain, but here goes....

Whenever I start exercise, I am forever having to spit out every few minutes. Untill, ( I think I`m empty, and then no problems then on after). When cycling the first 10 miles it hurts, lungs especially. Spitting every couple of minutes, after approx 10 miles, I feel good, breathing is good and I can do the next 40-50 no problems. I try to warm up before exercise, but cant get rid of the need to spit. The problem I have now, is that I am begining to cycle with a couple of mates, kind of embarrasing when I need to empty a mouthfull. Do you think it may be a diet problem, or would you have any suggestions on how to help with my problem?

Cheers

ps I not that fit in that I would want to do a 10 mile ride before I start

I thought this was normal? I've always done this and advise anyone riding with me to keep " up wind" to avoid gob and snot!.

I have noticed I do it more the less frequently I ride and like you feel great afterwards.

I often leave for a cycle with the parting words " I'm off to clear the lungs!"

 

[koro]

Guys,

Thanks ever so much for taking the time to reply, some great ideas on exercises that I will give a go...

Also I am pleased to see that I am not alone, it was never really a problem cycling on my own. I just let it go, although I have thought about getting a turbo trainer for the winter, if I set it up in the living room I better have a good aim for the bucket...

With the exercises, hopefully they will alleviate the problem somewhat. I will also think about how much dairy produce I take in.

Thanks Everyone...