Do you ever smell blood during hard exercise?

Originally posted by Conniekat8 Yeah, wanting to puke after hard sets is almost, um, 'normal' with swimming. I have a doc. appt. lined up in few days, I'll see what she has to say. I think that is a good idea because as a physician (albeit a pathologist) I have not heard (nor experienced) of that reaction to hard exercise. The coughing is also not a normal or typical reaction... I sometimes get bad abdominal cramps and numbness and tingling in my feet during a hard set. I attribute this to blood being diverted to the bigger muscles of the arms and legs...Interestingly when I ran track in high school and college I had that "I want to puke" feeling much more than I have in swimming...

When I used to run often I would taste blood at times too, but I never experienced that with swimming...

Originally posted by SwiminONandON Never smelled blood running or swimming ... only in gymnastics when there was actual blood present ... I do sneeze after swimming sometimes though. Sometimes it goes on for hours. I do often feel like puking after hard sprint sets though ... I am afraid if you are working that hard you had better change your workout habits. I have never had the problem and if I did I would not do those kind of workouts. If you are doing them because your coach advises you do them change your coach. As far as sneezing I do that without going near the pool. George

I contacted the www.athleticadvisor.com about I smell blood here is his answer... I have not heard of this before. I suggest that you consult with your primary care physician to determine if it is a problem. Good Luck, DE David Edell ATC, LAT, CSCS www.AthleticAdvisor.com George

Never smelled blood running or swimming ... only in gymnastics when there was actual blood present ... I do sneeze after swimming sometimes though. Sometimes it goes on for hours. I do often feel like puking after hard sprint sets though ...

Connie back to my post , Yes I had that smell as I said when I was a kid , I have not pushed myself that hard in years. How hard is your workout? Maybe you are really working out harder then most people will go. As I said as a kid till my teens running as hard as I could..playing laughing .. a kid I could get a taste of blood running fast as i could. I have had the same taste now and then but just dont push my self that hard very often. I was a skinny kid and could run a long way and fast. Intresting to find this questions answer out for all us!

It smells the same as if you had a nose or a mouth bleed, or after you eat a rare steak, but no blood anywhere. Usually happens not too long after I go anaerobic. I noticed lately that I start coughing some (dry cough) after going anaerobic a few times, not sure if there's a pattern yet. This happens with any hard exercise, not just swimming. It's even worse with running. I can't seem to run much before it happens. When my resting heart rate was 50 and I was in a really good shape, I could barely run 3 - 12 minute miles miles before my cardio seems to give out I seem to have a hard time getting my cardio-pulmonary in a good shape, in site of a year and a half of serious exercise. 4-7 tmes a week, 60-90 min per workout, heart rates 160-200. I keep wonderig where is the hangup. It's hasn't budged much from 70 in a year and a half. *sigh* I asked my teammates and a coach about this smelling blood, and they looked at me like I came off another planet! Didn't find anything online about it. I'm thinking about doing cardio pulmonary stress test, or whatever it's called. Guess just hinking out loud.

Originally posted by jim thornton But I wonder if the exertion of very hard exercise is causing capillaries to burst in your nasal passages? I was wondering about that, but I think you'd have at least a trace of blood when you blow your nose if that's the case. I was thinking perhaps minor bronchial bleeds, enough to smell it (I notice it the most when exhaling at the slower rate, at controlled breathing), but not enough to cough up any blood. Last time it happened I noticed I was dry coughing a little bit after it started, almost as if something went down the wrong pipe, but dry. I was thinking sinuses, till I netoced the cough. I haven't watched it closely eniough to see if it's always followed by cough. I do notice that sometimes during hard workouts I start coughing. Other times I don't. Yes, I sneeze and get goosebumps when I get in the sun... I wonder if its' the temperature change. It's funny to show people goosbumps when it's 90 degrees outside :D I always cough about 10 min after drinking a beer... maybe allergies. Now that would be embarrasing, allergic to beer!!!

Yeah, wanting to puke after hard sets is almost, um, 'normal' with swimming. I have a doc. appt. lined up in few days, I'll see what she has to say.

I also sneeze EVERY time I drink Bailey's.... it's well worth it though:) and wait a minute, George! ....you get PAID for swimming? ...my dream come true...lucky guy!