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MYTHBUSTERS: DOES COLD WEATHER MAKE YOU CATCH A COLD?

We hear it every winter: “Zip up your coat, or you’ll catch a cold!” It sounds logical, but is it actually true? 

At YOKUU, we love busting myths about microbes - there sure are a lot of them, including this one. Many people think that cold weather makes you sick, but surprisingly, this is a myth. Colds are caused by viruses, not by temperature. However, the cold does influence how viruses spread and how our bodies respond.

Why Do We Think Cold Causes Colds?

The idea that cold makes you sick likely comes from our behavior in winter. When it gets cold outside, we spend more time in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation, often close to others. Viruses spread easily in these environments. So, it’s not the low temperatures but rather how we react to the cold that increases the chance of catching a cold.

What Happens in Our Body?

Cold air has subtle effects on our body. Cold might make our mucous membranes more vulnerable to viruses, making infection easier. But without a virus, you still won’t catch a cold – cold alone is not enough to make you sick.

How to Prevent a Winter Cold?

Although cold itself doesn’t cause a cold, you can help boost your resistance during winter by taking a few simple steps:

  • Keep washing your hands: Viruses often spread through hands that come into contact with contaminated surfaces. Regular handwashing can make a big difference.
  • Ventilate your space: Even in winter, fresh air is important to reduce virus concentration in enclosed spaces.
  • Stay hydrated and keep mucous membranes moist: By drinking well and possibly using a humidifier, your airways stay better protected.

Myth BUSTED!

So, cold weather doesn’t make you catch a cold – viruses do. Winter conditions, however, make it easier for viruses to spread, especially when we’re close together in poorly ventilated spaces. So feel free to wear a warm coat for comfort, but you can’t blame the cold if you end up with a runny nose. Do you have another myth you’d like us to bust? Let us know!"

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