Cold air exposure at − 15 °C induces more airway symptoms and epithelial stress during heavy exercise than rest without aggravated airway constriction
(2022) In European Journal of Applied Physiology 122(12). p.2533-2544- Abstract
Purpose: Exposure to cold air may harm the airways. It is unclear to what extent heavy exercise adds to the cold-induced effects on peripheral airways, airway epithelium, and systemic immunity among healthy individuals. We investigated acute effects of heavy exercise in sub-zero temperatures on the healthy airways. Methods: Twenty-nine healthy individuals underwent whole body exposures to cold air in an environmental chamber at − 15 °C for 50 min on two occasions; a 35-min exercise protocol consisting of a 5-min warm-up followed by 2 × 15 min of running at 85% of VO2max vs. 50 min at rest. Lung function was measured by impulse oscillometry (IOS) and spirometry before and immediately after exposures. CC16 in plasma and urine,... (More)
Purpose: Exposure to cold air may harm the airways. It is unclear to what extent heavy exercise adds to the cold-induced effects on peripheral airways, airway epithelium, and systemic immunity among healthy individuals. We investigated acute effects of heavy exercise in sub-zero temperatures on the healthy airways. Methods: Twenty-nine healthy individuals underwent whole body exposures to cold air in an environmental chamber at − 15 °C for 50 min on two occasions; a 35-min exercise protocol consisting of a 5-min warm-up followed by 2 × 15 min of running at 85% of VO2max vs. 50 min at rest. Lung function was measured by impulse oscillometry (IOS) and spirometry before and immediately after exposures. CC16 in plasma and urine, and cytokines in plasma were measured before and 60 min after exposures. Symptoms were surveyed pre-, during and post-trials. Results: FEV1 decreased after rest (− 0.10 ± 0.03 L, p < 0.001) and after exercise (− 0.06 ± 0.02 L, p = 0.012), with no difference between trials. Exercise in − 15 °C induced greater increases in lung reactance (X5; p = 0.023), plasma CC16 (p < 0.001) as well as plasma IL-8 (p < 0.001), compared to rest. Exercise induced more intense symptoms from the lower airways, whereas rest gave rise to more general symptoms. Conclusion: Heavy exercise during cold air exposure at − 15 °C induced signs of an airway constriction to a similar extent as rest in the same environment. However, biochemical signs of airway epithelial stress, cytokine responses, and symptoms from the lower airways were more pronounced after the exercise trial.
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- author
- Eklund, Linda M. ; Sköndal, Åsa ; Tufvesson, Ellen LU ; Sjöström, Rita ; Söderström, Lars ; Hanstock, Helen G. ; Sandström, Thomas and Stenfors, Nikolai
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-12-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Cold temperature, Environmental chamber, Healthy, Physical activity, Respiratory physiology, Respiratory symptoms
- in
- European Journal of Applied Physiology
- volume
- 122
- issue
- 12
- pages
- 12 pages
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:36053365
- scopus:85137421253
- ISSN
- 1439-6319
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00421-022-05004-3
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 1b189b92-b962-4a4c-83e8-77efbc297249
- date added to LUP
- 2022-11-28 10:23:24
- date last changed
- 2024-06-13 20:47:15
@article{1b189b92-b962-4a4c-83e8-77efbc297249,
abstract = {{<p>Purpose: Exposure to cold air may harm the airways. It is unclear to what extent heavy exercise adds to the cold-induced effects on peripheral airways, airway epithelium, and systemic immunity among healthy individuals. We investigated acute effects of heavy exercise in sub-zero temperatures on the healthy airways. Methods: Twenty-nine healthy individuals underwent whole body exposures to cold air in an environmental chamber at − 15 °C for 50 min on two occasions; a 35-min exercise protocol consisting of a 5-min warm-up followed by 2 × 15 min of running at 85% of VO<sub>2</sub>max vs. 50 min at rest. Lung function was measured by impulse oscillometry (IOS) and spirometry before and immediately after exposures. CC16 in plasma and urine, and cytokines in plasma were measured before and 60 min after exposures. Symptoms were surveyed pre-, during and post-trials. Results: FEV<sub>1</sub> decreased after rest (− 0.10 ± 0.03 L, p < 0.001) and after exercise (− 0.06 ± 0.02 L, p = 0.012), with no difference between trials. Exercise in − 15 °C induced greater increases in lung reactance (X5; p = 0.023), plasma CC16 (p < 0.001) as well as plasma IL-8 (p < 0.001), compared to rest. Exercise induced more intense symptoms from the lower airways, whereas rest gave rise to more general symptoms. Conclusion: Heavy exercise during cold air exposure at − 15 °C induced signs of an airway constriction to a similar extent as rest in the same environment. However, biochemical signs of airway epithelial stress, cytokine responses, and symptoms from the lower airways were more pronounced after the exercise trial.</p>}},
author = {{Eklund, Linda M. and Sköndal, Åsa and Tufvesson, Ellen and Sjöström, Rita and Söderström, Lars and Hanstock, Helen G. and Sandström, Thomas and Stenfors, Nikolai}},
issn = {{1439-6319}},
keywords = {{Cold temperature; Environmental chamber; Healthy; Physical activity; Respiratory physiology; Respiratory symptoms}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{12}},
number = {{12}},
pages = {{2533--2544}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{European Journal of Applied Physiology}},
title = {{Cold air exposure at − 15 °C induces more airway symptoms and epithelial stress during heavy exercise than rest without aggravated airway constriction}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-05004-3}},
doi = {{10.1007/s00421-022-05004-3}},
volume = {{122}},
year = {{2022}},
}