As temperatures drop, you may notice yourself coughing during or after a run. While “runner’s cough” doesn’t necessarily mean you need to stop running outdoors, it’s worth understanding what may be causing it.

Karen M. Sutton, MD, sports medicine surgeon at HSS spoke with The Weather Channel to explain why running in cold air can trigger coughing, what may help and when to see a doctor.

What is runner’s cough? 

Runner's cough can occur when cold, dry air irritates and constricts the airways during exercise. 

“Runner's cough sometimes can be described as exercise-induced asthma, also a misnomer because not all the time it is associated with asthma,” said Dr. Sutton. “Another term for it is exercise-induced bronchospasm, where sometimes those runners won't always get the diagnosis of asthma, but they have symptoms related to asthma as they're running.”

Symptoms can include coughing, wheezing and chest tightness during or after a run.

Can you still run outside in cold weather? 

Dr. Sutton says yes. “As a runner myself, I would definitely still encourage running in the cold.”

When should you see a doctor for runner’s cough?

Consider seeing a doctor if your cough lasts more than 60 minutes after running, continues into the next day, occurs during runs regardless of the weather or is accompanied by weakness or feeling unwell. These symptoms could indicate another cause, such as an upper respiratory infection or virus.

Read the full article at weather.com.