(Eli5) Why is it that when you exercise a lot you constantly feel like you have to spit?

Question

I was playing a sport earlier and I had to spit, I don’t know why.

In: Biology

Answer 1

Exercise can lead to deeper and faster breathing. This can trigger a few different effects that result in increased mucus production in your lungs and throat and changes to your saliva production, this has to go somewhere. Some you swallow, some you spit out.

Cold weather, smoking, and other irritations can increase this effect.