$Unique_ID{BRK02012}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Outdoor Physical Activity in Cold Weather}
$Subject{frost bite lungs bronchial tree lung tissue breathing angina asthma
exercise cold air outdoor exercise weather conditions}
$Volume{}
$Log{
Anatomy of the Bronchial Tree*0005902.scf}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Outdoor Physical Activity in Cold Weather


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QUESTION:  It gets very cold in my area, but I still continue to get out and
jog.  I dress warmly, in layers, with good mittens to protect my hands.
Still, my wife thinks I am taking a chance of getting frostbite of the lungs,
especially when temperatures drop to near 0 degrees.  Any chance she could be
right?  How cold would it have to get before this injury could occur?

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ANSWER:  Since there is no such injury as frost bitten lungs, I can't quote a
temperature for you.  The body is so well constructed, that even when
breathing in cold air of temperatures that can be way below 0 degrees, it is
warmed and moistened before it gets very far into the bronchial tree that
carries air to the lung tissue.  Despite the fact that breathing in very cold
air can cause discomfort, even pain, no damage is done.  You can improve
things a bit by wearing a covering over the nose and mouth, like a scarf or
mask, that helps warm the air and reduce the pain.
     However, people with angina and asthma do run increased risks when
exercising in the cold, for the combination of exercise and cold air can
trigger an attack, and so they must be more cautious about outdoor exercise
when temperatures drop.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.