Descending and chest infections

[Mo2010]

Is there a link between the two. I picked up a chest infection this weekend and just thought its going around, Then heard the commentator at the Vuelta mention that riders may need some newspaper to cover their chests once they reached the top of the first climb (although he did say it might be warm enough at the time). This made me wonder, I was fine when riding on Sunday, went to the top of Suikerbossie, turned around and went back home. Remember thinking it was a bit cold during the descent. Anyways, started sneezing and eventually coughing throughout Sunday and gotten worse since. So my question is, is there a link and if so, what is it?

['Dale]

Definitely a link

 

Whenever I go up the mountain passes, I have at least a gilet in my pocket, unless it's in the heart of summer.

The wind chill can definitely affect the lungs, throat

[Mo2010]

Definitely a link

 

Whenever I go up the mountain passes, I have at least a gilet in my pocket, unless it's in the heart of summer.

The wind chill can definitely affect the lungs, throat

 

Lesson learnt I guess. I had a damn jacket in my pocket.

[deanbean]

Bull, you were sick already, and the symptoms appeared after your ride. Have you been stepping up your training a lot lately?

[Mo2010]

Bull, you were sick already, and the symptoms appeared after your ride. Have you been stepping up your training a lot lately?

 

You saying there isn't a link between the two then? I'm only asking based the the Vuelta commentators statement. thought nothing of it till then.

[deanbean]

They are descending a long way at high speeds, after perspiring on the way up, you get cold, and the muscles stiffen so keep warm for that reason.

[V12man]

You saying there isn't a link between the two then? I'm only asking based the the Vuelta commentators statement. thought nothing of it till then.

Cold dry air can/will induce bronchospasm (closing/narrowing of the little ducts in the lung), this has a negative impact on performance, so anything that reduces that impact is a good thing - but certainly cold per se won't give you a bacterial/viral infection - although it may well reduce your resistance to an infection.

[sawystertrance]

Go to agree with Deanbean. I think it more likely that you either had an infection already and the effort weakened you enough to allow it to develop, or you inhaled someones sneeze or cough. As far as I know being cooled down doesn't cause a virus to develop although they do thrive in runny noses caused by cooler conditions.

[Mo2010]

So what I'm getting is that I probably had the infection before, just without the symptoms. Is that right? Would covering up or at least zipping up before descending help prevent this kind of thing in future or not? Just trying to prevent illness where I can.

[Catatonic_Joe]

I cycled to work this morning, and there was a slight chill in the air. when going downhill I could feel the cold air going into my chest. At some points I tried covering my nose and mouth with one hand to prevent myself breathing the cold air directly.

 

Got to work and my chest feels terrible, was fine before today. Also got a really hectic cough and phlegm. Could I be feeling like this cos of the cold air in the morning? Still have to ride back home and it's all uphill, my breathign and chest not feeling so lekker.

[V12man]

 

Got to work and my chest feels terrible, was fine before today. Also got a really hectic cough and phlegm. Could I be feeling like this cos of the cold air in the morning? Still have to ride back home and it's all uphill, my breathign and chest not feeling so lekker.

Could be cold air related, BUT - could also be an infection - take an EASY ride home and see how it feels in the morning.

[Catatonic_Joe]

Could be cold air related, BUT - could also be an infection - take an EASY ride home and see how it feels in the morning.

Thanks doc

[TheV]

"Descending and chest infections" almost like "Going down and getting throat infections....

Edited September 11, 2014 by TheV

[Catatonic_Joe]

"Descending and chest infections" almost like "Going down and getting throat infections....

 

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/6d/6d15d8467e44b5258ecea3a7bfb31d48508fbbaa1c8a41c7d574784157bc48c2.jpg

[Dubsymike]

Some sound advice here. Cold in and of itself cannot cause the infection. You were carrying the infection already, and it was probably actually the exertion of training, rather than the cold, that accelerated it's becoming symptomatic. As correctly pointed out, the cold can cause bronchiospasm - shortness of breathe and/or coughing, but usually you'll find this eases once your body has warmed up on the ride.

 

For the pros (and I know most hubbers are in that category!) if they descend in the cold, and their chests (or more specifically the lungs beneath them) cool off too much, then their performance will drop off until they've warmed up again.

 

Interestingly, many or even most of us carry the bacteria that cause throat infections (and often chest infections as a result), all the time, but they do not get sick. In very imaginative fashion, those people are called 'carriers'.

 

One tip: It is in fact often the sinuses behind your eyes (and not the sinuses that aid in breathing through your nose) that get infected and cause post nasal drips which often lead to chest and ear infections. If you're using a nose spray, tilt your head as far forward as you can, to get the spray into those sinuses.

 

Now, where are my antibiotics...?

[Catatonic_Joe]

Shortness of breathe and/or coughing, but usually you'll find this eases once your body has warmed up on the ride.

 

For the pros (and I know most hubbers are in that category!) if they descend in the cold, and their chests (or more specifically the lungs beneath them) cool off too much, then their performance will drop off until they've warmed up again.

 

Interestingly, many or even most of us carry the bacteria that cause throat infections (and often chest infections as a result), all the time, but they do not get sick. In very imaginative fashion, those people are called 'carriers'.

 

One tip: It is in fact often the sinuses behind your eyes (and not the sinuses that aid in breathing through your nose) that get infected and cause post nasal drips which often lead to chest and ear infections. If you're using a nose spray, tilt your head as far forward as you can, to get the spray into those sinuses.

 

 

I've had this before, where I start coughing after the ride to work. But like you said it normally goes away after a while.

 

But not today, just a bit worried cos my ride home usually requires some huffing and puffing up the hills of Melville. Oh and I am suffering from hay fever at the moment, so post nasal drip could also be part of the problem.