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

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.

Keywords: airway hyperresponsiveness; airway provocation; athlete health; exercise induced bronchoconstriction; post exertion cough; spirometry; wheeze; winter sport athletes.

Figure 1

Interior view of the environmental chamber at the Department of Sport Science at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. Treadmill: h/p cosmos sports & medical GmbH, Nußdorf, Germany.

Figure 2

Acute respiratory function changes FVC (A) and FEV₁ (B) expressed as % from pretrial values for the total sample and separately for females and males at 0 °C and at −20 °C. Negative values showed a decrease from pretrial values. FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; error bars indicate standard deviations.

Figure 3

Acute respiratory recovery variables at 0 °C FVC (A), FEV₁ (B), FEF50% (C), FEV25–75% (D) expressed as % from pretrial values separately for females and males. Negative values show a decrease from pretrial values. FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FEF50%, forced expiratory flow at 50%, FEF25–75%, forced expiratory flow at 25–75%; error bars indicate standard deviations.

Figure 4

Acute respiratory recovery variables at −20 °C FVC (A), FEV₁ (B), FEF50% (C), FEV25–75% (D) expressed as % from pretrial values separately for females and males. Negative values show a decrease from pretrial values. FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FEF50%, forced expiratory flow at 50%, FEF25–75%, forced expiratory flow at 25–75%; error bars indicate standard deviations.