When we think of breathing freely and the best conditions to do so, those conditions most certainly don’t include a covering over our noses or mouths. In fact, itsounds downright stifling to cover our faces during exercise. But the conditions of freezing winter can often make it necessary to cover up or be left with asthma-like symptoms and difficulty breathing – this leaves us struggling to do the outdoor activities we love. Why does exercising in cold air hurt? The lungs are made to process warm, humid air. This is how they best perform their function of intaking air, transforming it into something our bodies can use, and expelling unneeded air. When we exercise in the cold winter months, our lungs suffer because cold air may cause bronchial irritation leading to wheezing, coughing, and that painful burning feeling. Even without the increased pace of breathing during exercise, breathing during relaxed outdoor activities can be painful. But when we increase our rhythm of breathing, it can make all of these wintertime symptoms worse. You’re putting much more dry, freezing air into your lungs that are made to process warm, humid air. Also, your airways are made to humidify and warm the air as it travels through your nasal passageways and through your mouth, throat, and down into your lungs. Breathing cold air makes your respiratory system work a lot harder to warm the air and dries out your mucous membranes that help moisten the air. This can be dangerous for not only your lungs, but your other organs as they receive less air. All of these different factors create that painful burning sensation and difficulty breathing. None of these are conducive to high-performance exercise. In fact, they decrease our ability to get in a good work out. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NAROO MASK | Official (@naroomask_global) View this post on Instagram A post shared by NAROO MASK | Official (@naroomask_global) How do I exercise safely in the winter? There are several factors that can aid in safely exercising in the winter. 1. Warmth. Dress warmly. Cover your face head, neck, and body so that you will not lose body heat while you exercise. The loss of heat can lead to hypothermia which then causes many other potentially dangerous issues. 2. Cover your airways. Almost any covering will help to humidify and warm the air as you breathe. It seems paradoxical to cover your airways in order to breathe more freely. But, the science proves it. Covering your airways makes it possible for us to head outside. Although you can use almost any covering to help your lungs in the winter, many coverings make it harder to take full breaths, they are uncomfortable, and they press against your face and get into your mouth. Athletes have specific needs that include breathing comfort and the ability to draw full breaths to power their exercise with oxygen. They need sports masks designed for people who exercise. A mask like NAROO’s Z9H is a great option for athletes. Here’s what it does: Humidifies and moistens the air Covers the head, ears, face, and neck to maximize warmth, UV protection, and wind protection EX | BONE (an apparatus that creates an air warming chamber) that keeps the cloth comfortably off your nose and mouth The EX | BONE can also be used with EX | HALE to prevent goggles and glasses from fogging up A zipper to let as little or as much air and wind into the mask as you wish Prevents the mask from slipping by using a combination of elastic fabric and stitching along with a moldable nose clip. If you’re in the market for a lighter mask, the Z5H has many of the same qualities as the Z9H but isn’t quite as thick. It will also protect your airways from that horrible burning and help you enjoy your outdoor exercise. Always remember though, use your discretion. If you’re hurting, or your doctor suggests to avoid outdoor activity, please listen. But if you’re ready to head outdoors, please do consider taking NAROO with you. We’ll keep your airways covered while you enjoy your exercise. Check out the Z9H and the Z5H. Don’t let the winter paradox stop you from exercise. NAROO’s sports masks won’t hinder you. They’ll set you free.
Blisteringly cold winds, frost, dry thin air… These are less than inviting conditions for cold weather exercises. Cold weather exercises in winter always requires that little bit of extra willpower and motivation, especially when coming from a toasty warm bed or the coziness of your home.You could just go to the gym or stay at home and work out in the living room. But we all know that isn’t quite the same as getting out and enjoying the outdoors. Nothing can replace the thrill of forging your own path. Besides, there are benefits to outdoor physical activity, especially during winter. With the right preparation and equipment, cold weather exercising can be extremely mentally and physically rewarding, motivating you to get out of the house.However, winter isn’t always the friendliest time to exercise, and we should head out with caution and protection. We got you covered. Follow these steps and exercise comfortably in winter. 5 Tips for Protecting Your Lungs in Cold Weather Wash your hands frequently.Bacteria spread through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth. If the virus is on our hands and touching our faces, we are almost certain to get sick for a day or two at the office.Cover your nose and mouth with a neck warmer or sports mask when you go out in the cold.Cold air is often dry air and can irritate the airways in people with asthma, COPD, or bronchitis. This can cause wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Check Winter Face Coverings here.You have to cover your airways. Why? Because breathing in wintertime can be excruciating. Cold air entering our throats and lungs can burn and make it hard to continue. As the single most important key to successful exercise (in any season) is breathing, anything that prevents effective breathing has to be dealt with. The frigid air can cause asthma-like symptoms in any athlete, no matter how healthy they are.Here’s why you feel the burn in winter.When cold, dry air enters your airways as you breathe quickly during cold weather exercises, your trachea begins to dry out and tighten, which causes shortness of breath and discomfort. The longer you breathe cold air, the more you will feel your chest tighten. Also, your body will begin to function less efficiently due to oxygen deprivation.To avoid burning airways, the air you inhale must be warmed. Your respiratory system delivers its optimum performance when the air you inhale is heated and humidified before it enters the lungs. However, the only way to do this is to cover your airways, which can be uncomfortable and even hinder breathing.Wearing a comfortable, functional mask that covers your nose and mouth is key to ensuring warm air enters your system. To further help prevent feeling the effects of the cold, also cover your ears and neck.Dress warm and stay dry.A cold actually makes you more susceptible to pneumonia and other respiratory infections.We talked about breathing in through the nose, warming the air, and preventing the burn. But the other side of the breathing coin is breathing out, the exhale. In wintertime and while wearing a face covering, this poses its own set of problems. While we exercise, we breathe faster and that speed combined with a mouth covering can lead to moisture building inside scarves or masks. Many sportspeople complain about wet masks making their necks and faces cold. This can lead to the moisture freezing and becoming unbearable.In order to make exhaling as comfortable as possible, NAROO MASK fabric has been designed to allow moisture to disperse quickly even in sub-zero temperatures, instead of absorbing moisture like other materials. This is called a moisture-wicking system that helps you stay dry in the freezing cold. NAROO will help you breathe easily and stay warm and dry.Be careful with the wood burning fireplace and stay hydrated.While it may seem like a great way to warm up, smoke and fumes from fireplaces can be irritating for people with asthma, allergies, and other lung ailments.It is especially important to stay hydrated in winter because it may feel like you’re not thirsty and not sweating. But your body is in just as much need of water as in every other season. Drink at least 30 minutes before you head out and if you’re going far, bring some with you to stay hydrated along the way. Dehydration can make your body struggle, which includes your airways. Prevent any undue difficulty by drinking enough.If you have asthma or COPD, always keep your inhaler nearby.If you have trouble breathing, stop working immediately and use your inhaler as usual.