Fit & Well: Tips for exercising in the cold weather

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — For this week’s Fit and Well Idaho Report: tips for safe cold weather training. According to a St. Luke’s Clinic sports medicine physician, preparing for a marathon can take months of hard work and some of those months may be during the winter.

Even if you’re not training and are just simply exercising, it takes a little extra dedication and care to stay safe. When the wind chill is below -18 degrees, frost bite can occur on exposed skin within 30 minutes. The wind can also penetrate clothing, even if you’re bundled up.

Tips to consider is knowing the signs of frost bite, dressing in layers; protecting your hands, feet and ears, and if you have asthma, talk to a health care provider first before working out.

“We did mention that people with asthma can be triggered by cold air,” said Sports Medicine Physician, Chad Johnson. “There’s a myriad of pathologies that can lead to that and if you have a reactive airwave disease where the cold air can trigger you, best thing you can do is of course stop working out. See your asthma treatment plan, consult with your primary care physician or pediatrician.”

It’s also recommended to keep an eye on the weather forecast and wind chill to avoid frostbite. Symptoms can include intense shivering, loss of coordination and fatigue. If your ever experience any of these, get emergency help right away.

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