Are Respiratory Responses to Cold Air Exercise Different in Females Compared to Males? Implications for Exercise in Cold Air Environments.

Michael D Kennedy,Elisabeth Lenz,Martin Niedermeier,Martin Faulhaber

doi:10.3390/ijerph17186662

Michael D Kennedy, Elisabeth Lenz + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186662

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Abstract

Research has shown that cold air exercise causes significant respiratory dysfunction, especially in female athletes. However, how female and male athletes respond to cold air exercise is not known. Thus, we aimed to compare acute respiratory responses (function, recovery and symptoms) in males and females after high-intensity cold air exercise. Eighteen (nine female) athletes completed two environmental chamber running trials at 0 °C and −20 °C (humidity 34 ± 5%) on different days in a randomized starting order. Spirometry was performed pre, 3, 6, 10, 15 and 20 min post. Respiratory symptoms were measured posttrial and heart rate and rating of perceived exertion were assessed during each trial. No significant differences in delta change (pre to post) were found at either temperature between sexes for FEV1, FVC, FEF50% and FEF25–75%. At −20 °C, FEV1 decreased similarly in both sexes (males: 7.5%, females: 6.3%) but not at 0 °C, p = 0.003. Postexertion respiratory function recovery and reported symptoms were not different between sexes at either temperature. These results indicate no sex-based differences in acute respiratory responses (function, recovery and symptoms) to cold air exercise. However, intense exercise at −20 °C is challenging to the respiratory system in both sexes and may lead to altered respiratory responses compared to mild winter conditions like 0 °C.

Highlights

It is well understood that in some individuals, exercise-related respiratory complaints [1,2]occur and are associated with transient airway diameter constriction during exercise [3]
All participants resting baseline spirometries were within normal range for their age, height and sex for FEV1 and forced vital capacity (FVC), but 4 female participants’ baseline FEV1 /FVC ratios were less than < 0.75, which is predictive of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction [15]
Our key finding would be that the respiratory function, symptoms and perceptual responses are similar between sexes

Summary

Introduction

Occur and are associated with transient airway diameter constriction during exercise [3]. In the few well-controlled environmental chamber studies to have been undertaken, respiratory function was shown to be suppressed [10] and respiratory symptoms increased in healthy adults during cold air exercise [11,12,13]. These initial studies [11,12] used only one cold air temperature condition

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