Run Run Away

Question:

I’m relatively new to running (started early September) and have been running religously until it got cold.  I’ve bought some cold weather running gear and started again but my main problem has been chest/lung pain with heavy breathing in the cold air.  I didn’t have any such pains in warm weather but it’s really quite bothersome.  I’m buying a shell jacket soon that will hopefully improve warmth but does anyone have similar experience with such pains in cold weather.  Is it the cold air I’m breathing or is my chest too cold?  It seems to start about 2 miles into my 3 mile run, if not sooner, and has actually forced me to walk part of the last mile, when if it wasn’t for the pain with breathing, I have felt fine physically. e-mail me with any info – it’s hard to keep up with this newsgroup thanks, Joe

Response:

        You should be conditioned well enough.           My first thought is possible exericse induced asthma (bronchospasm) since this does not occur with warm weather running.  I suggest a test with an exercise challenge (if your doc does not know what you mean, go to a doc who specializes in respiratory problems and deals with athletes).  A routine pulmonary test will not be predictive (too often they measure only peak flow or vital capacity and if you are below average, they say you have asthma).         The meds are simple, usually albuterol if EIB is indicated.           If you need more info on EIA exercise challenges, e-mail me directly and I can give you an idea of what the testing involves. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m relatively new to running (started early September) and have been running religously until it got cold.  I’ve bought some cold weather running gear and started again but my main problem has been chest/lung pain with heavy breathing in the cold air.  I didn’t have any such pains in warm weather but it’s really quite bothersome.  I’m buying a shell jacket soon that will hopefully improve warmth but does anyone have similar experience with such pains in cold weather.  Is it the cold air I’m breathing or is my chest too cold?  It seems to start about 2 miles into my 3 mile run, if not sooner, and has actually forced me to walk part of the last mile, when if it wasn’t for the pain with breathing, I have felt fine physically. e-mail me with any info – it’s hard to keep up with this newsgroup thanks, Joe

Response: