“You need to wrap up or you’ll catch a cold!”
Most people have probably heard some variation of that parental plea while growing up, or have even given such advice to their own children.
But contrary to popular belief, cold weather itself does not directly cause the common cold.
Why, then, do colds seem more frequent when it’s cold outside? It’s because the common cold is caused by viruses, such as rhinoviruses, not exposure to chilly conditions.
When it’s colder, the weather can contribute to the spread of these viruses, and during colder seasons, people tend to spend more time indoors creating an environment where viruses can be easily passed on.
Also, the dry air in colder weather may affect the respiratory tract, potentially making individuals more susceptible to infections.
All of these might explain why we feel the common cold is more prevalent when the temperatures dip, but it’s not being cold that’s the culprit.
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Pauline Terry, Manchester) 'Does cold weather cause the common cold?'
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