Is Night Walking Unhealthy?

A reader writes that she has been taking 30 minute night walks and it is helping her lose weight. But her friends tell her that night walking could give her bronchitis and urge her to walk in the morning instead. Are her friends right?

There is no health reason to avoid taking night walks. It sounds like the friends are citing old wives' tales rather than research. Some people with asthma may find that cold air is an asthma trigger for them. But so is almost everything else about the air outdoors - pollen, pollution, mold, etc. Exercise induced asthma can strike at any time of day, it is not specific to night.

Even if cold air is an asthma trigger for you, the old wives' tale is specifically wrong because if you check the Hour by Hour forecast at Weather.com, you will see that it is coldest outside just before and after sunrise, not at night. Walking outside from 8 pm - 2 am you are walking in warmer conditions than you would be walking at dawn.

Precautions for Night Walking
There are real hazards in the night - drivers are less likely to see you or be expecting pedestrians at night. And you can trip over things in the dark.
1. Wear reflective clothing to be visible to traffic (preferably a safety vest or my beloved Glo Gloves).
2. Walk in areas that have good street lighting and/or wear a headlamp or carry a flashlight so you can identify sidewalk hazards, holes, etc.

Evening and night exercise can improve sleep quality, according to some researchers. But some people may find they need an hour or more to unwind after night exercise before they can go to sleep. Allow enough time for sleep and enjoy night walking.

• Night Walking Strategies
• Best Time of Day to Walk

Photo © Wendy Bumgardner