Health Problems atfer ride?

[Rieley]

Hi, I took a quick 15 minute ride in the very cold weather, and as a result I have a bad cold, but whats more worrying is that my right lung is quite sore, okay i didn't wrap up propperly but is this a result of the cold or something more serious?

[webist]

I subscribe to the view that colds are caused by viruses and not exposure to the cold. However, given the symptoms you describe, I suggest a doctor rather than an internet forum as the best place to get advice.

[PeteLoftsgordon]

An unlucky coincidence my friend. Even if you had bundled up like a lunatic you still would have gotten that cold.

[StanSeven]

I subscribe to the view that colds are caused by viruses and not exposure to the cold. However, given the symptoms you describe, I suggest a doctor rather than an internet forum as the best place to get advice.

I just read something in the paper yesterday interesting. If you have a virus but haven't got a cold yet, cold weather increases the chance of catching one. The cold tempertaure causes blood vessels in your nasal area to shrink. That decreases the concentration of white cells to fight off the virus.

[DCCommuter]

I find that exercising in the cold can irritate my lungs and aggravate viral infections. It's just like the way that cut skin is vulnerable to infection. I also find that after a snowstorm, the sand/salt mixture that is put on the roads gets ground into a fine powder by cars, and the air is very dusty, which also aggravates the lungs.

[John Wilke]

Yeah, if your "lung" hurts, I'd see a doc. Could be pneumonia, a nice chest xray would be nice. A friend of mine was having chest pain after cross country skiing, went the ER, they though he was having a heart attack, but all the tests turned out negative. Next day, one of the residents glanced at his CXR ... "boy, THAT guy's got pneumonia". Duh.

jw

[Coyote!]

Agree with Wilke. that pain in the lung kinda' caught my attention.

[svpatel]

viruses cause colds, not temperature. I guess maybe being in the cold too long may make you more susceptible to catching a virus, but not likely.

[Mtn Mike]

Personally, I'd wait it out for a day or so. A doctor won't do anything for a common cold anyway. It's normal to get clogged sinuses and a sore throat in the cold if you're not in shape and are sucking wind. I bet you’ll be fine in the morning.

[ItsJustMe]

As others have said, you don't catch a cold from being cold. Don't bother with the doctor unless you have worrying symptoms, they can't do anything against viruses. Only go if spending $75 for nothing makes you feel better.

+1 on waiting a day; if you're not used to breathing hard for extended times in the cold, it can rip your throat up.