Do you get more out of breath....

[Mrs H]

...when it is cold, particularly at the beginning of a run/jog - or is it my imagination?

[EddieH]

Maybe you are slightly asthmatic. I suffer from "exercise induced asthma" which most of the time my body controls itself. At this time of year it can get difficult and this winter is particuarly so. I cannot breathe deeply enough to run anywhere near maximum although it can improve after half an hour or so.
I console myself by thinking that when breathing comes free again (hopefuly in POrtugal the week before BOC) it will be such a release that I'll be on cloud 9.

[SJ]

I've seen this on a few running/health forums - suggestions are asthma, lack of moisture in the air etc.

I think that the most likely reason is that your body needs to burn more energy to stay warm so running in the cold can be more tiring and the blood is more likely to flow to the core of your body to keep vital organs warm, meaning that extremities, including legs, might not have as much blood in the muscles as you are used to in warm weather. I think that warming up properly should help this, which is why it's particularly at the beginning of a run that it's harder work.

[Gross]

I suffer from exercise induced asthma also but I don't think the winter affects it too much. When I was UK based I used to do the macho thing and run in winter with a tshirt and shorts... you see it all the time. Your body can't be warm enough... in winter you should dress properly, long tights, thermal top, hat, gloves. When the temp starts getting really cold then wear a face covering which will warm the air up a bit before going inside....

It's quite warm in Vilnius today (+7) and I've just come back from running.... thermal, jacket & goretex top, ski gloves... saw Di & Indre out running also & they were well wrapped up...

My own asthma is at it's worst in places like Cuba where it is very warm & humid...

[Ed]

cut the pseudo-scientific explanations and admit it Gross, you're just getting old(er) and soft(er).

[Gross]

Ed.... you hit the nail on the head there

[EddieH]

[quote]your body needs to burn more energy to stay warm so running in the cold can be more tiring and the blood is more likely to flow to the core of your body to keep vital organs warm.[/quote]

That's my other problem. I am one of a significant minority that this happens to extreme. Typically I start on a cold day with reasonably comfortable hands. As I really start to work the blood flow to hands and feet stops and they become seriously cold. When the weather is cold enough e.g. Craig a' Barns they continue to get steadily colder throughout (100 minutes in that case). Dry gloves prevent severe heat loss, but as there is no internal heat they don't help them warm up.

As I get older this seems to get worse so that I really no longer have the desire to go into the hills in deep winter. Does anyone have any solution to this?

[Gross]

I've wear neoprene socks mostly through the winter... they do well a keeping even wet feet warm. You can get climbing gloves of the same design....

[Becks]

Eddie, Sounds like it could be a mild form of a syndrome I can't remember the name of - Reynaulds perhaps? You can take calcium antagonists for more severe cases, and the general advice for it seems to be to do everything you do anyway - exercise, no smoking etc. Could be worth mentioning to the Doc if you ever go there though!

Warning: This is extreme first year medical student stuff and probably total rubbish!

[EddieH]

Yeah neoprene proves my point - because there is no warmth generated within my hands even neoprene doesn't keep them warm, although it helps slow down heat loss when it's wet.

You guessed Becks - tell me what is a doctor?

[Karen]

I also get poor blood supply to hands and feet. I use those disposable hand warmers - look a bit like tea bags - one in each glove, and find them effective. Means I don't need to prise my fingers off the compass at the end of an event! You can use them in your socks as well, but I don't usually bother. Remember it's important to keep your wrists and ankles warm - the blood flows close to the surface and gets cold before it even gets as far as your hands and feet! I've used wind proof ankle gaiters to good effect, and even loose rubber bands to seal the gap between gloves and jacket sleeves.

[Angry Haggis]

Well if you would rather do your orienteering while staying nice and warm indoors, then there is a Google Streetview Street-O event tomorrow at 4pm:

See http://www.remmaps.it/rsrc/streetview/index_en.htm.

[Jess]

Aye, reynauds is a circulatory problem, I took medication last year for it. Pills everyday, which are really effective, but perhaps too much so as they work hard even when you're warm, so sitting in a pub after a nice long run in the cold and you turn into a beetroot!
As for the breathing, I find mine can be worse in the cold, but now it seems to be sorted again with drugs! Goodness knows what's going to happen to me when I get old...

[NFKleanne]

my breathings bad all year - cold affects it in the winter, pollen etc in the summer. I'm normally ok with all my tablets and inhalers.

[EddieH]

I try to avoid drugs unless absolutely necessary. Since I stopped using inhalers about 8 years ago my breathing has generally improved, and is now normally better than it ever was when using them. For the same reason I am unlikely to try a drug for circulation.

Karen, what are these "hand warmers" you talk about and where do I get them from?