As medical professionals have long asserted, and recent research supports, stopping your exercising whenever there’s a bit of rain or snow is a bad idea – at least, if you do that regularly.
Exercising in bad weather is one of the most effective ways to improve your health. It is a simple, inexpensive and easy way to stay fit and healthy without having to go to a gym.
Bad weather can be an excuse not to exercise but it should not be.
There are endless benefits of exercising in bad weather. If you are overweight or obese, exercising outside will help you lose the pounds faster than when doing boring workouts indoors. It is also easier to continue with your routine when you have fun doing it.
Exercising in bad weather is one of the most effective ways of getting physical activity for your body. It will help you reduce stress levels, keep your body flexible and improve your moods. In addition, it will make you sleep better at night as well as reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Exercising in bad weather will also help prevent heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure.
Ignoring signs and symptoms of a heat-related or cold-related injury or illness is a bad decision by the athlete. By avoiding these warning signs, symptoms could worsen, ultimately resulting in a severe injury with potential long-term damage.
The following are the most common symptoms associated with exercising in extremely hot conditions:
- Dizziness & Nausea
- Headache
- Extreme Thirst
- Abnormally Elevated Heart Rate
- Trouble Breathing
The following are the most common symptoms associated with exercising in extremely cold conditions:
- Loss of Mobility
- Thirst
- Tightness, Stiffness, & Soreness
- Trouble Breathing
- Intense Shivering
- Loss of Sensation/Numbness
- May Trigger Symptoms of Asthma or other Related Conditions
Upon the identification of any or all of these symptoms, stop exercise immediately, seek hydration, and aim to bring your core body temperature back to homeostasis. Next, it’s important to closely monitor your breathing and heart rate, seek help, and involve a medical professional.
Prevention of Heat and Cold Injuries
Luckily, there are several strategies that can be implemented and executed in order to prevent heat or cold injuries from occurring. Not only will the following preventative measures reduce your risk of injury, but they are also good to maintain your overall health.
The following are the most effective preventative measures to combat extreme conditions:
- Understand Your Tolerance to Hot and Cold
- Acclimate Yourself to Such Conditions
- Be Humble Towards Your Fitness Level (Don’t Exert Yourself)
- Maintain Adequate Hydration
- Dress Appropriately and Be Prepared to Add or Eliminate Layers
- Stretch, Warm-Up, and Cool Down
- Improve Aerobic Capacity
Heat-related and cold-related injuries and illnesses can be prevented with careful planning and preparation. For example, wearing light reflective clothing when it is very hot outside can be helpful. The athlete should make every attempt to control what they are able to control.
Exercise shouldn’t have to be put on pause because of an external factor like the weather. Instead, athletes need to learn how to make the necessary adjustments to maintain safety, prevent injury, and allow for optimum performance.
Extreme conditions, such as heat or cold, can trigger negative consequences for the unprepared athlete. So, it’s best that all athletes gain an understanding of the potential risks of such conditions.
Implementing appropriate preventative measures will reduce the risk of injury and allow continued participation in sporting activity.
The good news is that exercise can be performed safely under extreme hot or cold, but athletes must learn to adapt to these conditions appropriately.
