Go outside feel cold, go inside, go back out and immune

Factual Questions
1

This is something I’ve noticed recently, since I don’t have a car I have to walk to stores and back. When I am on the way to the store (a 5-10 minute walk) I’ll be freezing my tookis off, eyes watering, ears hurting from the cold, etc. I’ll get to the store and stay there for 5-10 minutes shopping, and then when I go back outside, while I can tell that it’s not warm, I don’t feel the same effect of being cold.

Yet, when I go on a really long walk–for like a half hour, outside–I’ll be freezing the whole way without ever really gaining the same level of immunity. It seems to only happen if I take a short break in a warm place.

Any explanation for this?

2

bump for daytime traffic

3

Could it be as simple as wind direction?

On the way to the store, you’re headed into the wind which cuts right through you. On the way back, the wind is at your back and not as noticeable.

4

My take on it is when you go initially into the cold your core temp goes from normal to cool, your body ramps up it’s method to warming itself to try to get the core temp up again, including telling you ’ hey get me inside where it’s warm '. When you get inside your body is still using other methods to warm up the core, it overshoots a bit. When you go back outside your body is trying to dump that heat, so you no longer feel cold.

A similar thing to a much greater degree is used by the polar bear club to swim in very cold water, first by heating their core temp up, usually by a sauna, steamroom, hot tub, or a very hot shower.

5

I"m interessted in this phenomenom as well. When I’m out rowing in 35 degree weather (we don’t wear gloves), my hands get incredibly cold and I get severe pain under my fingernails. If I stop after 5 or 10 minutes and warm up my hands, I can continue to row for another hour or so without any problem. If I don’t stop, my hands continue to hurt and never feel warm.

6

No, I’ve experienced it going to several different places (bookstore, pet store, Walgreens, etc.), each in a different direction.

Kanicbird’s idea sounds decent, though. :slight_smile:

7

I’ve sort of noticed this. I think it might be due to sweating once inside. For example - as you bundle up to go outside you usually don’t wait around long enough to start getting too hot. Once outside you start to freeze as usual. Then, once back indoors (if you don’t remove your heavy clothes) you will start to sweat, and then going back outside is actually preferable to being hot indoors. At least that’s my experience!