Myths About Exercising in the Cold
By Sara Butler
The frigid temperatures outside might make your desire to exercise outside plummet. Chilly winds and snow don’t make great companions for exercise! If you don’t utilize a gym or just prefer to exercise outside when you can, don’t let the weather freeze your progress. As long as your health is good, there’s no reason you shouldn’t get outside to exercise, so don’t let these cold weather myths give you an excuse to skip a winter workout.
Exercising in Cold Weather is Bad for Your Lungs
When it’s really cold outside, you may notice a burning sensation in the lungs or throat. Is that bad? Not really? If you don’t have asthma or some other issue with your lungs, then the cold air isn’t doing any harm to your lungs. By the time the air reaches your lungs, it’s been warmed to the same temperature as your body. It’s not possible to freeze your lungs by breathing in cold air; it just might be a bit uncomfortable.
The burning sensation you feel is caused by the low humidity in the air, causing your throat to dry up and become irritated. To prevent this, wrap a scarf around your mouth to help make the air more comfortable to breathe.
Joint Pain is Caused by Cold Weather
Your joints may feel more painful and stiff when it’s cold out, but the jury is still out on whether the winter weather is to blame. Some experts are of the opinion that the barometric pressure is the culprit in the cold, not the temperature. As the pressure outside drops, the tissues in the body expand, causing discomfort in the joints.
You Can Get Sick
Remember when your grandmother used to yell at you to wear your hat outside so you didn’t get sick? Granny had good intentions but she wasn’t right about this one. Cold weather has actually been found in some studies to help boost levels of norepinephrine, which can help to clear your sinuses and alleviate congestion.
What is dangerous about working out outside is the development of hypothermia – a condition where your core body temperature drops dangerously low. That can make you open to infection and illness. Plus, the dry air can cause constriction of the blood vessels in the throat and nose, reducing the effectiveness of the mucous membranes, your body’s first defense against germs. Just make sure when exercising outside in the winter that you dress appropriately. And hand washing can go a long way to keep you healthy, too!
Don't let the cold weather keep you indoors this winter!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Gahanna, Ohio.