Hello
I am struggling to walk in cold weather, and I think I saw a recent post where someone suggested some sort of muffler to use to help warm up inhaled air. I’m hoping someone can suggest something so I don’t feel so bad after walking in cold weather. Thank you everyone for all your posts on MVA, they are soo helpful and mostly reassuring. ❤️
Hi Eglatine,
I struggle in this weather too. A snood is always quite good and they’re easily available online and you can choose from different colours. Most of the high street retailers do them. Failing that, you can just wrap a scarf around your mouth and nose. I’ve been wearing ear muffs too to keep the cold out of my ears as I feel like this triggers my angina as well. The cold is a vasoconstrictor, so this is why you may feel like you are struggling to walk in this weather.
I hope you find something suitable for this cold.
All the best.
Tos
When the weather is particularly cold, I always wear a fleece balaclava or ski hood, which can be pulled down to just cover the neck if it warms up during my walk.
That sounds perfect!
Hello,
Whenever I go out in the cold weather, I cover my nose and mouth with either a scarf or snood and wear a hat.
The challenge is trying to stop my glasses steaming up.
I try and walk more slowly especially up inclines.
I walk my dog late morning or early afternoon rather than in the early frosty morning.
As well as vasospastic angina, I also have Raynaud's Phenomenon another vasomotor disorder.
I wear lots of thermal layers, two pairs of gloves and fleece liners in my boots and shoes.
Yes l suffer in the cold . I have a gilet from Marks and Spencer with a deep inside pocket . I bought a small hot water bottle ( from Home Sense) to slip inside. Not too heavy but quite a comfort to have snuggled inside . !
Thank you Milkfairy! The glasses steaming up will definitely be a problem! My mum gave me some wipes to use on my glasses during covid to stop them steaming with face masks so I’ll have to see if I can find them again. And I found some insulated rubber boots (suitable for -20C), and finally I can go for a walk without my feet freezing! I’ve ordered a girly coloured balaclava so hopefully I won’t terrify strangers when I go out with only my eyes visible. I’m getting there!
this is what you need caminodesantiagoshop.com/pr...
But you can get gaiters in any campshop on the high street
Thank you!
If it's cold I tend to put my scarf over my mouth as the cold can make me breathless. If it's very hot I get breathless as well so always have to have water with me when out . I have a spray if it gets very bad but only use it if I can't catch my breath . I have PAF and born with small hole in the side of my heart.
Plus I have a rare hereditary neurological condition which effects my limbs and host of other things . The cold makes it very difficult to walk if outside to long plus it effects my balance . I wear 40 denier tights under my trousers in the colder months as I can't wear socks . Have fur lined boots and warm coats . I do go out wearing odd gloves have a thermal one on my left hand but leather on my right . I walk with a stick and I can't grip my stick with my thermal gloves. If it's frosty wear my hiking boots as they have a better grip on the bottom.
I don't go hiking but found they are safer in frosty weather or snow plus I wear them when travelling long distance on a train to protect my ankles and lesson the chance of losing my balance and falling ..
Goodness you are making a huge effort and succeeding, which makes me realise that I will be able to too. Thank you so much and do take care and look after yourself.
I have had to adapt my life to suit my disability. Don't laugh but didn't get my diagnostic until I was 63 now 66. It's only thanks to me moving 100+ mikes to the north west and having a neurologist who didn't fob me off as my old one did. He had my whole genome genetically tested and put me on Clonazepam in January 2020. After 32 years of limb jerks and 4 seizures within 2 weeks they stopped. Because of covid didn't get the results until 1st April 2022. But better late than never. And it was wonderful I am no longer weird but have HPX as it's shortened to . Ok still am weird 🤣. But the rare disease put me in touch with a world wide group with the same condition but there are several gene mutations. So I have been on a steep learning curve and teaching my neurologist about HPX as he never had a patient with it nor his colleagues. But he has 2 of us now as a member of the HPX
asked if I thought he would see her so gave her his details . Hopefully one day we will meet as she is in the next county .
But whatever life throws at us we just have to get on with it. And with a life long condition we find ways to do things we want but our way. Which I think makes us all stronger and more inventive than I won't say normal as no such thing as normal. But people without long term health conditions. Hence the picture of my new kettle which tips . 😊
I’m 62, newly retired, and was planning a lot of outdoor time and travel until this stopped me in my tracks. So definitely not laughing! Hopefully once the meds have it under control I’ll be able to resume those plans, although perhaps the artic circle exploration will have to be shelved! I’m currently to nervous even to step on a plane or contemplate a long train journey to get somewhere warmer. But spring is well known it’s way! Thank goodness!
Your blood helps to keep you warm in winter an cool in summer by moving heat around your body - so in low or high temperatures your heart has to work harder to move blood around to help keep your body at the right temperature
This means that all people with heart conditions need to help their hearts by wrapping up warm in winter, to reduce heat loss and take measures aimed at keeping cool in summer
So use whatever measures suit you to keep warm, including covering your mouth and nose to help warm the air you breath in, wearing a hat to reduce heat loss from your head, etc
When I attended coronary rehabilitation we were told that walking in cold weather was not a good idea.
An old cyclist gave me a good tip some years ago which I still use today Wrap your toes and the top of your foot in a paper towel then you can wear any shoes you like x
Another tip for cyclists was to put bread wrappers over one's feet, which also kept them dry from puddle splashes. That was a very long time ago, since when specialist winter cycling shoes and bootees have been introduced.
Another cyclists' trick was to stuff a newspaper between top layers to protect one's chest. After an hour or so on a chilly morning, I would discard the paper into a convenient rubbish bin.
One situation in the current weather is needing extra layers first thing, then finding them too much later on. Thus it was yesterday, when I set off at 0800 with the overnight frost still evident, but by midday had rolled up my sleeves to enjoy the sun's warmth on my forearms.
Hello Eglatine, I use a scarf around my mouth. I also bought a gillet last year from M&S. It is lightweight to wear indoors and not too bulky to wear beneath a coat
Hi Eglatine
I agree with Tos92. Snoods are great they are quite colorful and can be used around the neck (keeping you warm), pulled over the mouth (great for breathing) and even over your ears and head if its that cold. I had mine in GO the store. I suggest it's well worth a try.
My elderly uncle was advised after his heart attack not to go out in cold wet or windy weather. He paced his upstairs corridor which went from one end of the house to the other and managed 3 miles on days he didn’t go out!
I too have had a ha and
I walk around my kitchen table !
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