"Cold weather itself makes you sick"

Question

Pretty much anyone believes that cold weather can get people sick, but this is only a myth. Colds and flu really do seem more common in the winter but the chill does not get you. Instead, low humidity and being indoors with others make it easier for germs to spread. Dry air dries out the membranes in your nose, so viruses can easily invade. In other words, again, it is germs and not temperature.

Comments

This article explores if cold weather causes colds. It takes on the common myth, yet myth busts it, arguing how cold weather is correlated to colds but doesn't cause. The article uses reliable facts and correlates them, such as how lower Vitamin D can lead to less production and thus more influenza. However, these facts are not fully trustworthy since they come from "research" and no specific reputable source to be fact checked. The article is more focused on symptoms and preventions towards sickness than the actual myth itself, so it is not well written. This article should not be deemed as reputable.

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Well said, I think that always looking into if there is causation or correlation on an issue is a very important trait to look at. I do wonder what other articles said on this question, as well as how trustworthy this source really is. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to look into what else they have claimed on other articles of theirs.

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I think this article isn't the most reliable but its content remains viable and truthful. This article from the mayo clinic would've added sense of credibility to you claim; https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/1-16mayo-clinic-minute-can-cold-weather-cause-a-cold/
I think the main reason we all get sick around this time is because of our proximity to the virus, being indoors most of the time. Prior to reading the article, I wouldn't have guessed humidity is a factor of sickness, but now I understand why a steamy shower can clear my airways temporarily while I'm sick!

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I think the main reason we all get sick around this time is because of our proximity to the virus, spending more time indoors. Before reading the article, I wouldn't have guessed humidity plays a role, but now I understand why a steamy shower can offer temporary relief. The paper delves into the common myth that cold weather causes colds, offering a more nuanced perspective. While it correctly points out a correlation between cold weather and increased illness, it doesn't definitively prove causation. The article cites lower Vitamin D levels as a potential factor, but lacks specific, reputable sources to fully support this claim. Ultimately, the article focuses more on symptoms and prevention than the core myth, making it less effective in addressing the topic. Therefore, it may not be considered a reliable source of information.

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I believe that the article listed in this claim is not the most reliable of sources, though the content within it is still truthful. While the article points out the relation between colder weather and increased illness, it fails to provide sound evidence towards causation. Instead focusing largely on symptoms and prevention options, rather than the core topic, thus making the claims and arguments made within much less effective. According to the Mayo Clinic, "The cold weather itself doesn't cause the common cold... the chances of spreading a respiratory virus go up because more time is spent indoors." Therefore, it is not the cold weather that is directly causing an uptick in viral infections, it is the fact that more people are indoors more often than when the weather is warm. This article did what the one linked in this claim could not, and provided more reasoning behind why there is typically an increase in illness during the winter months.

source:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/1-16mayo-clinic-minute-can-cold-weather-cause-a-cold/

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Hello! I love the fact check because I always feel strongly about this topic. I agree fully with you that germs are the cause of sickness, not the cold. With that being said, your source of this information is not a great source. Using a .com source is not a reliable website. Next time, try to find a .org or .gov. This could help your findings seem more credible. Great job overall!

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I really like this fact check. i like that you analyzed this in your own words and then added the link so people can do further research on their own. i'm glad that you clarified that germs get you sick, not the weather itself.

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This fact check distinguished a correlation myth of cold weather and catching the cold. The article utilized a primary source of a research article titled as : Quantifying the role of weather on seasonal influenza. This research article backs up the claims made in the post and in the article used. Utilizing credible sources from platforms like Center for Disease Control and Prevention, this article's claim can be testified.

https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3114-x

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This is an outstanding fact check on the myth about cold air making you sick. Breaking down the similarity of dry and cold air. Dry air makes membranes inside your nose open up allowing different bacterias and things to enter your body. If anything when it is cold outside families stay indoors which can make them more vulnerable to catch germs from someone in the house.

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This claim is stating that cold weather causes illness, which is a popular myth. Considering how many people “catch a cold” during winter, one could assume that cold weather makes you ill, however, this isn’t the case. While colder temperatures do increase your likelihood of getting sick, there’s a difference between causation and correlation. Cold temperature does not “cause” illness, but it does play a factor. According to an article from Northwestern Medicine, cold weather increases your susceptibility to viruses, because your body is putting more energy into keeping you warm, and less energy into your defense system.

A physician from Northwestern, Winston D. Rajendram states that “as temperatures drop, we have more viruses in the environment.” Additionally, research from the Mayo Clinic informs patients that in cold, dry air, water droplets that may “contain a virus hang in the air for longer periods.” The combination of viruses thriving in colder temperatures, paired with a lowered defense system can lead to further sickness. Your nasal passages lose their efficiency in the cold as well. A study from UCLA Health explains how a “crucial frontline immune response” inside the nose is “significantly less effective” when the nasal passages are cold.

Taking these studies into consideration, it becomes evident that cold weather is correlated with higher rates of illness, but not a direct cause of illness. However, if you want to protect yourself from getting sick, wearing lots of layers to stay warm during winter is a good method.

Sources:
https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-winter-make-you-sick

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/new-study-links-nose-temperature-and-immune-response

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-why-do-people-get-sick-with-viruses-in-the-winter/#:~:text=But%2C%20in%20the%20winter%2C%20when,well%20in%20the%20winter%20months.

Answer 1

Once again, I’ve heard this myth my whole life, but I never really believed it. My friends would always say they got sick from being outside in the cold without the right clothes, and my immediate reaction was always, “There’s no way that’s true.” So, I decided to look into it and see if there was any truth behind it.

Right away, when I searched this claim, I found no evidence stating that cold weather directly causes people to get sick. According to the Mayo Clinic, “...the cold weather itself doesn't cause the common cold. However, as winter temps dip down, the chances of spreading a respiratory virus go up because more time is spent indoors with others.” (Mayo Clinic). This means that colder temperatures don’t make people sick, but they do drive people indoors, where there is less airflow and a higher chance of spreading germs. While the article disproves the myth, it does acknowledge a small connection between cold weather and illness. The Mayo Clinic also states, “If you're a little bit colder outside, your body's immune system may just drop a little bit because it's spending extra effort to keep you warm.” (Mayo Clinic). This suggests that, for some people, colder temperatures may slightly weaken the immune system, making it a little easier to catch a virus.

Another source, Medical News Today, also supports that cold weather itself doesn’t cause illness. The article explains, “...rhinoviruses may replicate more efficiently at temperatures lower than 37°C, or 98.6°F, the average core body temperature in humans. The temperature inside the nasal cavity is approximately 33°C (91.4°F), which may make it an ideal breeding ground for rhinoviruses.” (Medical News Today). This means that while cold weather doesn’t directly make people sick, viruses may thrive better in cooler conditions, which could make it easier to catch a cold.

Sources-

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/1-16mayo-clinic-minute-can-cold-weather-cause-a-cold/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323431

Answer 2

According to Northwestern Medicine, the cold itself does not make you sick. During winter months in most places, the overcast and gloomy weather means less sun resulting in lack of vitamin D, a key vitamin for our overall health. Additionally, the dry air from both inside (heating systems) and outside (dry cold climates) drys out our airways, making it harder for healthy bacteria to survive and easier for outside bateria to contaminate our system. 

https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-winter-make-you-sick#:~:text=Cold%20weather%20may%20not%20be,more%20easily%20in%20the%20winter.

Answer 3

Although there’s a theory that cold whether itself, makes you sick, it is not true. In the three articles, “Can Cold Weather Actually Make You Sick?” written by Sara Moniuszko from CBS, “Can Being Cold Make You Sick?” written by Karen Weintraub from the NY Times, and “Do You Really Get Sick from Being Cold?” written by Unity Point Health, they all say similar things. They all say that the cold cannot get you sick, but the weather can be a factor of getting a cold. Moniuszko says that because the cold weather encourages people to stay inside and keep warm, this allows more opportunity to have more contact with people that are sick, that are also inside with you. And Unity Point Health said that because you can get hypothermia or frostbite from the cold, that weakens your immune system, which can make you more at-risk to viruses like the cold or the flu, but it is not directly the cold that’s making you sick. So, while the cold itself can’t make you sick, it can affect your body secondarily by another cause like hypothermia, frostbite, or staying indoors with other potentially sick people.

Sources:

Can cold weather actually make you sick? Health and safety dangers to know about this winter

Can Being Cold Make You Sick

Do You Get Sick from Being Cold?