How Simple is the Weather in Our Lives?

There are simple things in life that we often dont think about with regards to our health and exercise. A change in weather is a prime example of something that affects us daily and we might not even realize it. From very subtle concerns regarding personal health issues to severe atmospheric conditions that can be downright dangerous. Now that the wind, snow and freezing temperatures are here it just might be worth taking a look at how weather changes things with regards to our health and exercise.

Extreme weather conditions alone makes exercising outdoors a lot harder to do safely. Every single one of us needs to take all the obvious safety precautions that weather changes bring when exercising outside. Wearing proper clothing that is not constricting, that does not soak and hold perspiration against the skin, dressing in layers, hats, gloves and most importantly, wear proper foot wear! Dont forget health protection like wearing sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, etc. Lastly, even when its cold you must keep well hydrated and never eat too much prior to your workout; a full stomach pulls necessary blood supply to the stomach, when in cold weather is needed in the extremities to keep warm.

When the weather changes so does our daylight and it messes with our circadian rhythms and puts many of us into a light-deprived funk. Research supports that depression issues rise significantly during the darker, colder months of the year. The good thing about depression is that exercise has a positive effect on the symptoms of depression and the more you exercise, the better you can handle the dark and dreary days.

Raynauds Disease, is a vascular disorder that affects blood flow to the extremities (fingers, toes, nose and ears) when exposed to temperature changes or stress. Cold causes spasms in their blood vessels, which cut off the circulation to these extremities turning their skin a chalky color and can become very painful. This makes outdoor activities very uncomfortable and difficult to enjoy, people with this condition are advised to exercise indoors during cold weather and/or take all necessary precautions while outside in the cold.

Asthma is another condition that can worsen in the winter. Inhaling cold, dry winter air can trigger contractions of the air passages in the lungs called bronchospasms. To avoid this, its important to utilize anti-asthma medications properly and to be aware of how cold conditions can affect outside activities. When exercising outdoors, it is best to start slow and allow your breathing to increase gradually as your body temperature warms to the exercise while being performed outside.

Individuals who have heart problems should also be a little more cautious with outdoor activity/exercise. The reason for this precaution is that the bodys reactions to low temperatures put stress on the cardiovascular system. These reactions include constriction of blood vessels in the skin, shallow breathing through the mouth, and slight thickening of the blood, all of which can lead indirectly to heart issues. Cold lowers the hearts supply of blood, while exertion raises the demand for it. This imbalance between supply and demand can also cause attacks of chest pain. Even individuals who dont have heart disease can also feel the affect of increased blood pressure during colder months. Once again, exercise is extremely important for everyone with or without heart disease and with the knowledge of proper warm-up and heart rate monitoring outside activity should be no problem.

What about if Jack Frost nips at your joints? Its a common that individuals with joint and arthritis issues seem to fuss more during cold weather. However, there is no solid evidence proving a link between weather and worsening of arthritis. I think its more the issue of feeling worse because the weather is worse all around you. With concerns to exercise, those suffering from joint and arthritis issues do need to take special precautions and make sure to exercise within their limitations, whether it be inside or outside.

Remember, when exercising in cold weather be prepared and pay attention to your body outside of the discomforts of the weather. The warm days will return!

 

Deborah Holmes

December 9, 2008