Many people associate cold weather with the mutual cold. While the weather is non direct responsible for making people sick, the viruses that crusade colds may spread more than easily in lower temperatures, and exposure to cold and dry air may adversely impact the trunk's immune system.

In this commodity, we examine the human relationship between cold and wet weather and the cold. Nosotros likewise cover some tips for preventing colds.

A woman with a cold in autumn Share on Pinterest
Inquiry suggests that temperatures below 98.6°F may allow rhinoviruses to replicate more efficiently.

Co-ordinate to the Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of people develop the common cold each yr in the Us alone. On boilerplate, adults get ii or 3 colds a year.

Many viruses tin can crusade the common common cold. Rhinoviruses are the most mutual cause and are responsible for more than half of all colds and cold-similar illnesses.

Rhinovirus infections typically outcome in mild cold-like symptoms. However, rhinoviruses can also cause more than severe illnesses, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, in people with weakened allowed systems.

Rhinoviruses typically spread through:

  • direct person-to-person contact
  • the air as small-scale droplets, or aerosols, which people and then inhale

In one case inhaled, the rhinovirus attaches itself to the cells inside the nasal passages. It then begins to replicate itself, spreading more virus particles throughout the upper respiratory tract.

Some research suggests that rhinoviruses may replicate more than efficiently at temperatures lower than 37°C, or 98.six°F, which is the boilerplate core body temperature in humans. The temperature inside the nasal cavity is approximately 33°C (91.4°F), which may get in an ideal breeding ground for rhinoviruses.

Most inquiry on rhinoviruses has primarily focused on examining how differences in body temperature affect the virus's ability to reproduce. All the same, more than recent enquiry is focusing on ecology factors that may increase a person'due south take chances of developing a rhinovirus infection.

1 study examined whether or not variations in temperatures and humidity led to a higher risk of rhinovirus infection. The researchers plant that decreases in both temperature and humidity over a iii-day period increased the take chances of rhinovirus infections in participants.

In the same report, researchers plant that the majority of infections occurred in temperatures at zero (32°F) and below.

Influenza viruses, which cause the flu, may besides survive and spread more easily in common cold and dry air. One study in guinea pigs suggests that the platonic temperature for the influenza virus to spread is 5°C (41°F).

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Less vitamin D during winter months can affect the immune system.

Many researchers believe that exposure to common cold weather condition can adversely affect a person's immune response, making it harder for the body to fight off infections. Reasons for this may include:

  • Reduced vitamin D levels. During the wintertime months, many people become less vitamin D due to reduced sun exposure. Research suggests that vitamin D plays an essential role in maintaining the immune system.
  • Spending more time indoors. People tend to spend more time indoors during wintertime months, and viruses spread more when people are close to each other.
  • Lower temperatures may touch allowed response. A 2015 study found that exposing airway cells taken from mice to lower temperatures decreased the immune response of the cells against a mouse-adapted rhinovirus.
  • Blood vessel narrowing. Breathing in cold and dry air causes the blood vessels in the upper respiratory tract to narrow to conserve rut. This may prevent white blood cells from reaching the mucous membrane, making information technology harder for the body to fight off germs.

Some ways to avoid getting sick during the wintertime include:

  • taking vitamin D supplements or eating foods that are loftier in vitamin D, such as fat fish, mushrooms, and eggs
  • getting plenty of sleep
  • staying hydrated
  • washing hands regularly
  • always sneezing and coughing into clean tissues; if no tissue is available, information technology is better to use an elbow rather than the easily
  • not sharing foods, drinks, crockery, and utensils with people who have a cold or the flu

Viruses, such as rhinoviruses and flu, crusade colds and the flu, not the conditions. Notwithstanding, exposure to cold atmospheric condition can increase a person's risk of contracting a virus.

Inquiry suggests that these viruses may survive and reproduce more finer at colder temperatures, making it easier for them to spread and infect more people. Cold conditions may as well reduce the immune response and brand information technology harder for the body to fight off germs.