Sports for coughs and sore throats

If coughing and sore throat occur during a cold, this indicates an infection of the upper respiratory tract. This in itself is not necessarily a reason to abstain from sports, but here too it depends on where the sore throat comes from. Sore throats are usually caused by an inflamed pharyngeal mucosa, which in turn is caused by viruses.

Another feared cause is an infection with a certain strain of bacteria, streptococci, which can classically lead to white, spot-like deposits on the tonsils. This group of bacteria can cause damage to the heart valves when germs are carried over and, in the context of rheumatic fever, can lead to inflammation of the heart, which is why antibiotic treatment should generally be administered immediately if bacterial tonsillitis is suspected. In the case of mild sore throat, one should listen to one’s own body and consider the external conditions, for example the duration of sporting activity or the intensity. Whoever ignores sore sore throats and does not consult a physician should be aware of the danger of the virus being carried into the bloodstream and thus affecting the heart and kidneys. It is therefore advisable to refrain from sport in case of cough and sore throat as a precautionary measure.

Risk of heart muscle inflammation

If one does sport during a cold, which is sometimes characterized by coughing, this not only means extra effort for the body, which is already running at full speed anyway, to fight the pathogens, but also a potential additional health hazard. Infections of the upper respiratory tract are usually caused by viruses or bacteria, and many potential invaders can also attack the heart as part of a germ transfer. Carry-over occurs if either no adequate therapy is initiated in time or if the body is not given the necessary rest it needs to fight the infection efficiently.

Coughing during sports due to overexertion

Coughing during sport can take the form of a chesty cough, but it can also be independent of it, either as part of overexertion or independently. The cause is often the cold and dry air, which can lead to a chesty cough, especially when doing outdoor sports.Normally, the air in the nose is moistened and heated before it reaches the lung system, but during sports and especially in cases of overexertion, extra breathing through the mouth occurs, so this “preparation” is missing. Overexertion during sports can also trigger a so-called exercise-induced asthma, which is accompanied by coughing or chesty cough and above all shortness of breath.