Cold Weather - Breathing Difficulty ?

cedar404

Went out today for 2 hours and found it very hard to catch my breath on hills that I am usually fine on. Legs felt fine but my breathing was extremely ragged and I felt like I was almost gasping for oxygen at times.

Never felt like this before, don't know of any underlying medical conditions so is it something to do with the cold or should I just put it down to an off day ?

Garz

Cant say it has effected me that way.. any other symptoms?

ForumNewbie

It was cold and misty this morning, so maybe if you were cycling in the mist, that affected your breathing a bit. Luckily by the time I was ready to go out today (after Xmas shopping in the morning) it had turned into a lovely sunny afternoon.

mattbass789

its sometimes the dampness in the air that can restrict breathing. i find it hard on occasion breathe in the baking heat, and when its really cold and damp.

sometimes, ive heard it can be attributed to asthma, i dont have it, but my father suffers at this time of year. but mostly its the smoke from people burning coal fires that gets me!

cedar404

More i think about it, more i think my body was just a bit run down as even on the flat i felt my breathing was not right. Gonna chalk it down to experience and hope that next time i am all good.

Flasheart

I had exactly the same problem breathing yesterday. After my 2nd P******re of the ride I pulled into the LBS where I bought my bike to pick up another couple of innertubes and the young guy at the counter said to me that I was wheezy. I told him I wasn't surprised as I had felt my chest very constricted all ride.
I put it down to the cold air + my asthma + that damn headwind that kept finding me. :evil:

As stated before buy mattbass , smoke from peoples chimneys doesn't help. It seems to stay low in the damp cold air, right at cycling height too convieniently enough. Out my way it seems everyone in the Forest has a fire going.
AND 1/2 way along Ornamental Drive the Forestry Commission were having controlled burns and that 5 miles was full of smoke ....how thoughtfull of them

fcumok

I get like that with cold weather due to my asthma. If it happens again get yourself checked out.

robrauy

I'm experiencing very similar:-

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... highlight=

This has been helping a bit:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphragmatic_breathing

rake

lay off the kingsize.

oscarbudgie

Had a similar thing a few weeks ago - felt like I was going to die on a hill that normally barely registers, wheezing like the Marlboro Man....next day I came down with a bad cold (man flu) but absolutely fine now.

oldwelshman

For first few miles I lift up my buff to cover my face to warm the air, normally ok after that.
Another thing you might try is peppermint extract dabbed onto your tongue. Cannot remember the name of it but looks like olbas oil bottle, most health stores sell it.
That helps with opening airways.

kingrollo

I get this - but put it down to my asthma.

fnegroni

I don't get it as much as I used to, but it is definitely a symptom of something wrong.

Might be just a chest infection.

Or if barely noticeable, could be down to not long enough warm up.

When it's below 10C, I must make my warm up longer so that the cold air will have a chance to get warmed up before it reaches the alveoli in my lungs. I sometimes help it by wearing my winter top in the house while having breakfast.

Jimbo.

If the cold plays havoc with your (comparatively tough) exterior (numb extremities, dry/chapped skin, sensitivity, pain etc) then think about what it's doing to the delicate bits inside i.e. your lungs! Add to that their massive surface area (the air sacs/blood vessels, the names of which escape me) over which you can lose plenty of heat, and you've a recipie for breathing disaster. You'll be dumping litre upon litre of fresh, cold air on them as you go along, so there's only so far "warming up" will get you.