Calling asthmatics...

[Catrin]

I've not had asthma problems since losing my weight, but cold air still makes me wheeze easier than other triggers.

At the start of my ride today (39 degrees, 10-15 mph winds), I started getting pain in the middle of my chest when I breathed deeply. I am a mouth-breather, and I was dressed properly with a balaclava over my face/nose. I didn't push it, it DID improve but my chest is even now just a little tight (no wheezing).

Has anyone else had this happen? I've ridden in colder temps and this is the first time I've experienced this. Have you found a way to prevent the cold air from irritating your lungs - outside of sticking to the trainer? It felt so nice to finally have the proper clothing for the temps and then had this happen

BTW, I love my brand new PI Elite Barrier MTB shoe covers Thank you, very much, to the friend who was able to help me get them at a discount!

[zoom-zoom]

Yes. Similar temps here (I think maybe 3-4 degrees colder). We were on mtn. bikes and it wasn't so bad when we were in the woods and going slower, but into the wind on the road to get to and from the trail area I was really struggling. I didn't wear a balaclava and I'm not sure I could in those temps...I think I'd overheat. After I got home and into warm air I started coughing and coughing and hacking-up lots of crud. I can run in the same conditions and not have these issues.

[nscrbug]

I struggle a lot with this on cold, windy days...and especially on hills. If the temps aren't cold enough for a balaclava, then I'll wear a thin Smartwool neck gaiter that I can bring up over my nose/mouth to warm the air a bit before breathing it in. Aside from that, the only other thing I do to prevent it is to take a really good hit of my rescue inhaler right before stepping out of the house...but I assume you are already doing that.

Linda

[Catrin]

Thanks to both of you for your comments, have you ever gotten pain in your lungs from the cold air? I haven't been coughing or wheezing, and I really don't think it was my heart

I do need to get my rescue inhaler refilled, there isn't much left so that might be part of what was happening as well. I've been avoiding windy conditions since it got cold, so that may well be the main problem as I've ridden in colder temps (well, not much colder) without a problem.

[Crankin]

Catrin, I used to regularly take my rescue inhaler before doing anything in the cold; it seems as if my tolerance has built up and I hardly ever have symptoms, unless i am sick. I would definitely take the albuterol before your ride, hydrate extra well, and go slower in the beginning, as a warm up.
What do you mean by "a pain in your chest?" There have been times I've had asthma start suddenly, but I am not sure if I would describe that as a sudden pain. Of course, I have had enough weird symptoms in my life to know it's probably your asthma, but if it happens again, after you take your inhaler, I might just check with your doctor to make sure it's not cardiac, or even muscular.

[Catrin]

Catrin, I used to regularly take my rescue inhaler before doing anything in the cold; it seems as if my tolerance has built up and I hardly ever have symptoms, unless i am sick. I would definitely take the albuterol before your ride, hydrate extra well, and go slower in the beginning, as a warm up.
What do you mean by "a pain in your chest?" There have been times I've had asthma start suddenly, but I am not sure if I would describe that as a sudden pain. Of course, I have had enough weird symptoms in my life to know it's probably your asthma, but if it happens again, after you take your inhaler, I might just check with your doctor to make sure it's not cardiac, or even muscular.

It was a sharp pain right in the middle of my chest when I tried to breathe deeply, it was equal on both sides and pretty low down my chest. I've had pain there before when I've had a respiratory infection or chronic asthma problems so that is why I associate it with my lungs.

Perhaps it would be good for me to warm up on the trainer before taking it outside...As soon as I got through the complex and crossed 56th to the bike path that takes me to the park I hit a stronger than expected headwind - not 5 minutes after getting on the bike. It was shortly after this that I noticed the problem.

I do tend to have "variant" symptoms of asthma, generally they aren't the traditional signs unless I've been having problems with it for days...