Does getting chilled or becoming cold cause colds?
I know colds are virus infections but does getting cold make you become more susceptible to infection? Any science studies on this?
I know colds are virus infections but does getting cold make you become more susceptible to infection? Any science studies on this?
Anonymous
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I heard just cold temperatures cannot make you have a cold. The main reason people get colds when its cold is usually because your indoors more. It increases the chances of spreading disease because the air does not circulate as well indoors :P and with more people indoor, yeah.
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The chilling doesn't cause the cold, but, rather, increase your susceptibility to the virus. The viruses that cause "colds" don't replicate well at higher temps. A drop in temp in you upper respiratory tract of just 0.5oC is enough to make a difference. I don't have specific citations for this info though.
Anonymous
I've heard that the only reason you're more susceptible to getting sick if you're in the cold is because the cold temporarily knocks down your immune system. But no, you can't literally catch a cold from being cold. :)