As the weather gets colder there is always a phrase you can count on hearing “Put on a coat or you'll catch a cold.” It's a belief that parents and grandparents alike seem to pass on to the next generation. But have you ever wondered if there is any truth to this “old wives tale” that not wearing a coat in the cold really increases your chances of catching a cold? This belief comes from the idea that cold weather can directly cause a virus when in reality that’s not true. According to the CDC one of the most common types of viruses are rhinoviruses. Rhinoviruses are a respiratory virus that spreads through droplets of an infected person when they cough or sneeze. The cold and dry air can often lead to more frequent coughing and sneezing, which increases the frequency of potential viral spread instances. The idea that exposure to cold weather and environments (especially without a coat) can lead to a viral infection is misleading. However, cold weather may indirectly increase the likelihood of catching a “cold” due to increased sinus activity in inclement weather, but the virus must be present first.
The
cold weather can actually play a significant role in how our bodies react when
they come in contact with a virus. When our bodies get cold their ability to
fight off a virus is drastically decreased. According
to one study by Shepard
et al (1998), inclement weather
plays a key role in the “suppression of several cellular and humoral
components of the immune response, including a decrease of lymphocyte
proliferation.” These lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that play an
important part in our immune system. They are responsible for identifying
foreign invaders (like viruses) and using the body's immune system in an
attempt to destroy them. Shepard goes on to say that,”Lymphocytes are an
important unit in the immune response cascade that if not present result in a
decrease in natural killer cell count. These Natural Killer cells are a
specific type of lymphocyte that act as one of our first lines of defense. They
provide rapid identification and destruction of infected viral cells without
prior exposure needed. Without natural
killer cells it would be much harder
for our bodies
to react to pathogens
because our bodies' other immune responses such as T and B cells, take longer
to respond.
Figure 1. B and T cell availability in children under 6 and adults of 18 years of age. This data was gathered research conducted by Semmes et al., 2021. |
Cold to Action
The
most important thing when the weather gets cold, regardless of if you're
putting a jacket on or not, is to keep yourself out of harm's way during this
year's cold and flu season. Make sure to wash your hands frequently to keep
viruses and other unwanted bacteria away. It's
also a good idea to stay home if you think you're
getting sick. This will prevent
the spread to those more susceptible demographics
that may have a harder time fighting off illness.
Staying Warm in the Cold
Some
may think that it's the cold weather that gives you a virus due to the
cold-like symptoms that commonly
arise during the winter months,
such as a runny nose and sore throat.
These symptoms are often mistaken for a cold/virus, but in reality they are
just a result of your body reacting to the dry/cold air. The increased exposure
to viruses from coughing and sneezing of infected individuals, along with your
weakened immune system from the cold is the real culprit. Putting on your coat
won't necessarily prevent you from catching a cold/virus. But it will help your
body stay warm and reduce the conditions that make you more susceptible to
illness.So next time you run outside give your body a fighting chance by taking
a coat with you.
By Adam Singer, a Master's of Medical Science student at the University of Kentucky
References
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. (2024, April 24). About Rhinoviruses. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/rhinoviruses/about/
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. (2024b,
October 15). About common cold. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/common-cold/about/index.html#cdc_disease_basics_causes_risk_s pread-causes-and-spread
Shephard
RJ, Shek PN. Cold exposure
and immune function. Can J Physiol
Pharmacol. 1998
Sep;76(9):828-36. doi: 10.1139/cjpp-76-9-828. PMID: 10066131
Semmes EC, Chen JL, Goswami R, Burt TD, Permar SR, Fouda GG. Understanding Early-Life Adaptive Immunity to Guide Interventions for Pediatric Health.
Front Immunol. 2021 Jan
21;11:595297. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.595297. PMID: 33552052; PMCID: PMC7858666.
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