The Cold Doesn't Make You Sick; This Is a Myth
The Cold Doesn't Make You Sick; This Is a Myth
Evidence Suggests Otherwise
There are many myths that we grow up with and become ingrained in our society. One of these is the idea that the cold makes you sick and, in turn, makes you worse. But in recent years, scientists have proved this to be wrong.
The truth is that people who catch a cold have a boost in their immune system because it forces them to fight off an illness, and their body has to release antibodies.
The idea of the cold making us sick was first proposed by doctors who worked at hospitals during World War II, when antibiotics had not been invented yet. They saw more patients get sick after being exposed to the cold, so they came up with this theory — but they didn't consider that many of these patients were already very ill before they were exposed to the cold weather.
Many people believe that the cold weather makes them sick. While it is a common belief, there is no evidence to support the idea that the cold causes your symptoms.
The body produces a natural immune response to fight bacteria and viruses to protect itself from getting sick. The body releases immune cells and white blood cells to combat any potential infection from foreign invaders. For this reason, people are more likely to get sick during periods of high humidity when their bodies sweat less and release fewer protective chemicals. Studies have found that people in dry climates are less likely to get sick through respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia than those living in humid climates.
There is evidence that suggests viruses spread better in cooler climates. This may be because the virus becomes less active at colder temperatures, or it might also have to do with how people react to illness — which has nothing to do with weather conditions.
For example, researchers believe that colds are more prevalent during winter months due to changing temperature and changes in social behavior, such as staying indoors and being closer together for more extended periods. Many scientists suggest that this can lead people who are ill or carrying a virus by sharing food, drinks, objects like phones and pens, coughing on others, etc., all things which help germs travel from one person to another without them knowing about it.
The truth behind whether the cold makes you sick has not been proven yet. But, there is enough evidence to suggest that it doesn't matter what season or the temperature outside — getting sick is all about your immune system fighting off an illness and nothing else.
A virus causes the common cold.
A virus causes the common cold, and there are no antibiotics to treat it. The infection usually lasts one to two weeks and spreads through droplets (from sneezing and coughing) or contact with infected surfaces. It can affect the nose, throat, sinuses, ears, or lungs. It can be debilitating for some people, causing fever, sore throat, coughs, congestion, and sometimes rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal tissues).
What do you think? Do you believe you can get sick with cold weather?