It was 3℃ when I drove to work this morning and snow is forecast for later in the day. It’s nearly the end of winter, but try telling Dunedin that! Last week was pretty good, clear blue skies, what are known parochially as ‘Dunner Stunners.’ Today, not so much.
It’s always hard to get motivated when the very act of breathing in cold air can set your lungs into spasms – why is that?
There are a few reasons:
👉 Physical Muscle Response: Cold air is often dry and when you breathe it in, it can irritate the lining of your airways. Your body responds by constricting the small muscles around the airways, which makes it feel harder to breathe and can trigger coughing.
👉 Nerve Response: Your airway lining is packed with sensory nerves, which can act as an alarm system, triggering your brain into a cough reflex as a protective response, getting your body to expel the irritant, which in this case is the cold air.
👉 Extra Stress for Asthmatics or Sensitivities: For people with asthma or hyperresponsive airways, cold air can trigger more intense symptoms. Bronchospasm (tightening of the airway muscles) can cause wheezing, coughing and breathlessness – called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.
👉 Oxygen Uptake and Temperature Differences: When cold air hits your warm, moist lungs, the temperature difference can briefly affect blood flow in the airways and the way oxygen transfers into the blood. This doesn’t usually harm healthy lungs, but can create that sensation of tightness or struggling to get a full breath.
What Helps?
✨ Warm the air: Breathe through your nose rather than your mouth; nasal passages are natural humidifiers and warmers for incoming air.
✨ Cover up: A scarf or neck buff over your mouth traps warmth and moisture, reducing irritation.
✨ Prep before moving: A short warm-up indoors before heading out helps your lungs adapt more smoothly to the cold.
✨ Support from within: This is where Zestt Breathe+ can play a role. It’s formulated to support lung lining resilience and airway comfort, helping you adapt to challenges like cold, dry air. Taken regularly, it works in the background to reduce inflammation and keep your airways strong and responsive.
✨ Asthma check: If you have asthma, follow your preventative inhaler plan and check with your doctor if you are having ongoing issues which are affecting your ability to go outside and exercise.
Cold weather does make it harder to exercise from a psychological perspective, but it shouldn’t make it harder physically. Try the steps above and do what you can to brave the elements; having demanding dogs also helps! 🐾❄️