This brings new meaning to under the weather.
With flu cases climbing this winter season rapidly and record low temps on the way, it’s easy to think the weather’s to blame.
But modern research says the cause of the common cold is more nuanced in winter, and that frigid temperatures themselves don’t cause infections.
However, cold air still plays an important role in getting sick.
Cold weather influences several factors, including biological, environmental and social, that increase how vulnerable people are to respiratory illnesses.
One reason why more people get the sniffles, according to research, is that viruses responsible for the flu can survive and remain infectious longer in cold, dry conditions.
These viruses, such as influenza strains and rhinoviruses, are transmitted through respiratory droplets and spread from person to person, despite the forecast.
Dry, wintertime air also causes tiny droplets from coughs or sneezes to evaporate quickly, causing smaller particles that stay suspended in the air longer, which increases the chances of others inhaling them.
The dry air doesn’t just dry out our skin but also the lining of the nose and throat, reducing mucus.
While runny noses aren’t fun, mucus is necessary to trap viruses and clear them out of the airways.
How our bodies defends itself from viruses also changes in the winter.
When we breathe in cold air, this can trigger vasoconstriction, or narrowing of blood vessels, which reduces blood flow.
Reduced blood flow can weaken immune responses that help detect and eliminate viruses before they cause infection.
And when the weather gets cold, we’re often called to the great indoors, often in close contact with others.
These crowded spaces can encourage virus-containing droplets to build up and spread more easily.
There’s also a lack of vitamin D exposure in winter, a crucial nutrient for proper immune function and protection against viruses.
Studies also show that those with respiratory conditions like asthma can experience worsened symptoms in cold conditions.
While colder temperatures are linked to a rise in respiratory illnesses, stepping outside without a coat or sleeping in a chilly room aren’t the reasons for getting sick.
