Jogging in the Cold Bad for Your Lungs?

IMO I don't think it's bad for lungs, I'm outside of Denver and while it might take a little more time to warm up, usually the chill weather doesn't bother me too much. IF it's below freezing (i.e. Alaskan style) and one would need a balaclava(?) to cover the mouth warming the air before it enters lungs.

I jog in the cold. It makes me wheeze and I was told I have exercised induced asthma, years ago. That sounds very silly. I keep jogging, and I get stronger the more I do. It builds up my lungs, actually.

NOOOooooo. It is NOT BAD for your lungs. You can run in pretty much any conditions you are prepared to deal with. Yes, you need to dress appropriately, and that takes some time to figure out when you're new at it, but it is not dangerous unless you have other health issues. I've been a serious 40-50 mile a week) for 25 years and I have run in all conditions. there's lots of info on running online (ie Runner's World) where you can find knowledgeable answers to your questions.

Just from personal experience....jogging in the cold used to hurt my lungs a bit. Then, one winter I had a friend who went jogging with me every morning (so I went on a more regular basis). We usually ran 3-5 miles 6 days a week at 7 AM. It was usually 15-35 degrees outside. Ever since that winter, jogging in the cold does not bother my lungs in the slightest!

It depends on HOW cold it is. Low enough temperatures can cause ice crystals to form in the lungs, which is definitely bad. Same token, in warmer (but still below freezing) temps, your sweat can freeze in your clothes, which can lower your body temperature dangerously (which is why in snow survival situations, you actually get naked before snowshoveling, to keep your clothes from getting wet). Also, your body burns more calories in extreme temperatures (either hot or cold) to try and maintain homeostasis. Many athletes use this trick when they have to make "weight" (by running in garbage bags etc) BUT it's not healthy, and can lead to a calcium magnesium imbalance, and/or shock/stroke because the nurtrients get burned soooo fast. Think of marathon runners who collapse. It's that sort of thing, but caused by the body burning energy to combat the weather rather than the distance burning it away.

Obviously those with lung conditions (asthma, pneumonia, etc.) are far more sensitive to atmospheric conditions than the average person.

So CAN running in the cold be bad for you? Yes. Is it usually? Nope.

How cold?
If you have existing lung problems, medical issues or asthma for example, I would not. Cold air makes asthma worse.

Maybe try doing a Google search on it or check with your own Doctor.

all the best,
Susan

Since you have exercise-induced asthma, I would recommend not jogging very much when it is really cold, but listen to what your body tells you; if your lungs are burning when you run, stop or at least take a break until they feel better. I also have exercise-induced asthma, and one particularly cold winter back when I was in high school, I ran as fast as I could for two or three blocks to catch a bus when the temperature was around zero degrees. I ended up getting pneumonia badly enough 1-2 days later that I had to go to the ER at 3 a.m. and coughed so hard that I actually tore a lung, and the doctors attributed this all to my run. (This was only about 5-6 years ago, so I don't think what they said is likely to be outdated.) Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if the temperature were closer to freezing rather than zero degrees, I really don't know, but like I said, just listen to what your body tells you. :)

I think it's BS because it's never bothered me, but I'll be interested in seeing the answers too!

I used to shovel lot's of snow in very cold conditions (I grew up in a Buffalo NY suburb)- a very aerobic activity. The air would sometimes be so cold it almost hurt to breathe (wind chill in the teens or sometimes below zero). The trick was to wrap a scarf over your mouth, nose, most of your face a few times (so only your eyes could see out). It would help keep your cheeks from getting windburned. It would also keep warm moist air next to your face so it wouldn't be straight cold breathing in again. A balaclava works, too. I imagine this should work just as well for jogging.

I also have exercise induced asthma and used to run. (I stopped because I just don't really like running.) However the key to running in the cold with asthma is to let your lungs gradually become used to the cold air. Take the time to warm up slowly and gradually get your lungs used to the cold air. Once that happens (can take up to 15 minutes depending on the weather), then you can do any type of intensity workout. If I didn't warm my lungs first (through breathing), then it could trigger an attack. But if I took my time with a warm-up, it never happened. Working out is so good for your lungs when you have asthma, you just have to know how to be smart about working out. Good luck.

I don't think this is true. I used to jog (now stick to the gym and dvds) and my fav season was winter (in Wisc).

Smoking is bad for your lungs --Not exercise.