"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

I agree with this claim. The evidence and source provided explain how this misconception can be tied to the shift in human habits during colder months as people spend much more time inside in close quarters with others which helps infections spread as well as how the cold causes dryness in the body weakening germ fighting abilities as well as the increase of time that respiratory illnesses linger in the air all this combined with lower vitamin d levels support your claim and defend it. Your source is also medically reviewed so overall good claim and response!

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This turns into the myth that the cold weather is the cause of illness. This article means that colds are actually more prevalent in winter due to other factors, including the dry air, people being indoors more with close contact, and lower levels of vitamin D. These conditions, it is evident that viruses would have the most opportunities for easy spread. Another article from Northwestern Medicine corroborates this notion, further cementing the fact that it is not the cold that makes people sick, but how winter affects our bodies and behaviors.

Source: Northwestern Medicine

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The notion that cold weather itself causes sickness is untrue. The article from Northwestern Medicine explains that cold weather itself does not directly cause illness, but it can increase the likelihood of getting sick. Cold air weakens the body's ability to fight viruses in the nose and upper airways, making it easier for viruses like the common cold, flu, and COVID-19 to spread in winter. Dry winter air can also help viruses spread more effectively. While cold temperatures don’t directly make you sick, they can create conditions that make the body more susceptible to illness.

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

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This is a good breakdown of why people get sick more often in the winter! One thing you could add is how behavior changes in colder months and also plays a role in higher illness rates. For example, holiday gatherings, school, and reduced ventilation indoors. Otherwise this is great!

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You bring up a good point about how humidity and being indoors with a lot of people matter more than just the temperature. Plus, it's worth noting that cold weather can mess with our immune systems. Some studies say that being in the cold for a long time might weaken our defenses a bit, making us more likely to catch something. So, while being cold doesn’t directly make us sick, it can definitely play a role.

Answer 1

Cold weather does not in itself cause a sickness or cold, but it may make some people more susceptible to catching a cold. However, most of the time, colds and illnesses go up during the colder times because you spend more time inside with other people that may consequently have colds. Mayo Clinic Minute piece on this subject.

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

Comments

I find that you explanation effectively clarifies the misconception that cold weather directly causes illness. It correctly highlights that while the cold itself doesn’t make people sick, it can contribute to conditions that increase the risk of catching a cold such as spending more time indoors in close contact with others who may be contagious. I think in order to strengthen this point, it may be helpful to mention that dry winter air can also play a role by drying out nasal passages, making it easier for viruses to enter the body. Additionally, emphasizing preventive measures—like frequent handwashing, proper ventilation indoors, and maintaining a healthy immune system—could further enhance the discussion.

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I like how your response is short, and simple. You used a reliable source according to Media Bias Fact Check and I agree with you that the claim they used is false. I also enjoyed reading the article that you linked, I learned more on how our germs spread easier indoors.

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The way you used a medical site and debunked the "cold weather makes you sick" by providing reasoning on why that's false, is really good.

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This is a great explanation of how cold weather influences illness rates! I like that you mentioned susceptibility. You might also want to touch on how seasonal changes  could play a role in immunity during winter. Great use of the Mayo Clinic source to back up your points!

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Nice article you used. Written by a clinic and has actual quotes from a physician. They bring in very nice points, saying most people stay inside during the cold months so germs spread quicker since more people are around each other in a smaller space.

Answer 2

It is an old wife's tale that going outside in the cold will cause you to catch a cold. While people do tend to get sick more during the winter this is primarily due to 2 factors: more time actually spent indoors in closer proximity to people without proper ventilation and the lower humidity in the air causing nasal membranes to dry out, allowing more viral and bacterial invaders in.

Source: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/12/17/can-the-cold-really-make-you-sick

Comments

I like what you said and I thought that the joke you made to start it was quite funny. I checked the source that you posted, and it backs your claim. As someone who lives in a very cold environment during the winter I don't think cold weather leads to sickness but it is definitely important to stay warm during the cold season so that you don't make your body elevate its temperature, and  lead to the chance you get sick. So I think if you just wear the right clothes the cold doesn't lead to sickness. But overall great job on this fact check.

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Your explaining is very interesting that another resource also prove the view that the reason of making sick is staying long time in the room and so on. It allows the point become more credibility.

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This response was succinct and to the point. It outlined the falsehood and then gave the true reasons. This was exactly what I was looking for after reading the main post and wanting just a bit more information.

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This response was great because it gave two main reasons for why sickness is spread the most in the winter. Both answers give a good reason for why sickness is spread more in the winter and are relatable as well. Nasal membranes drying out is something I hadn't come across while researching this topic but it makes perfect sense.

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I agree with you that it is an old wife's tale because of the myth our parents would tell us" Going out with wet hair will make you sick" is something I would hear all the time. i agree with you on this

Answer 3

Many people believe that cold weather itself makes you sick, however, this is incorrect. The cold weather doesn't directly affect illness, but it can increase your risk at getting sick. Cold weather can cause weakened immune systems, more time indoors, dry nasal passages, and increased virus survival. Your immune system drops a little when it is colder out because it is putting in extra effort to keep you warm. People are indoors more often when it is cold outside, allowing the virus to pass more easily from one person to another. Even though the cold weather is correlated to getting sick, does not mean it is the direct cause of illness. 

https://www.unitypoint.org/news-and-articles/do-you-really-get-sick-from-being-cold

Comments

I like how you explained the connection between cold weather and illness—it’s easy to see why people might confuse correlation with causation. The way you laid out why cold weather indirectly increases our risk of getting sick was very clear and understandable. Also, nice job including the source for extra credibility!

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I agree with this fact check. being inside surrounded by others constantly allows viruses to travel and spread quicker than they would during the summer when people are outside. Also you would have to be outside for a prolonged amount of time before your immune system is weakened.

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I totally agree with your factcheck. There's a very clear correlation between coming down with a cold and the season. You did an amazing job getting this point across and backing it up with data from the article. Your response does a great job of summarizing the articles main points, and still staying true to your views.

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I like how you brought up that the cold weather does not directly affect illness, but it can increase your risk of getting sick

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This is a good source and I agree with you. As I was doing my research I found this other source: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/12/17/can-the-cold-really-make-you-sick. This explains that people do tend to get sick more during the winter this is primarily due to  more time being spent indoors being closer to people and the lower humidity in the air causing nasal membranes to dry out, allowing more viral and bacterial invaders in.

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Your factcheck is really good. You used a reliable source that clearly gave evidence for your fact check and you pointed out the difference between correlation and causation, which is something many people confuse. It is important to make clear that certain things being correlated doesn't mean one causes the other.

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Awesome response. I like how you listed multiple reasons to why people tend to get sick during the colder weather. Great job! Super clear and concise

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This is a great factcheck. I like how you listed the source you used. I liked how you restated the claim and added onto it, making it clear that cold weather leads to other factors that directly cause illness. I liked how you kept it short and simple while making your evidence understandable and relevant to the main claim.

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I agree with you on this, most individuals here are saying that this claim is false, but I agree that this is just a misleading claim. It cant be false or true, it is simply that the two are correlated. It is not a direct connection, but when the weather is cold you spend more time indoors, resulting in germs spreading easier.

Answer 4

Yes, it’s indeed a common misconception that cold weather directly causes illness, but science disagrees. Only pathogens—specifically viruses and bacteria—can actually cause infectious diseases like colds and the flu, which people often associate with winter. Unlike autoimmune, genetic, metabolic, or inflammatory diseases, which have diverse causes, infectious diseases spread through microbial agents, not temperature alone.

This myth is partly reinforced by language. In English, "cold" refers both to low temperatures and to the common cold, leading many to believe one causes the other. While colds and flu are indeed more prevalent in winter, this is a correlation, not causation. Studies confirm that low temperatures alone do not increase infection risk. For instance, a 1968 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJM196810032791404) found that participants exposed to different temperatures while in contact with cold viruses showed no increased infection rates or severity or duration.

The seasonal rise in these illnesses can be explained instead by behavioral and environmental factors. In cold weather, people tend to gather indoors, in confined spaces with poor ventilation, which increases virus transmission. The News in Health article "Clearing the Air" discusses how such conditions make it easier for airborne viruses to spread (https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2023/12/clearing-air).

Humidity also plays a significant role. Viruses remain airborne longer in dry, winter air. Low humidity prevents moisture from forming around viral particles, allowing them to stay suspended and infectious for longer periods. Conversely, during warm, humid summer months, condensation weighs viruses down, causing them to fall out of the air more quickly. Furthermore, a 2023 study published in PNAS Nexus (https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/2/2/pgac301/6960684?login=false) found that, in an environment where the air is dry, all viruses causing infectious diseases are likely to stay twice as long in the drier air, in part because they are able to use the saliva emitted with them as a protective barrier.

While wearing warm clothing can help maintain body temperature, it doesn’t prevent infections. Scarves and similar items can act as partial barriers, reducing exposure to airborne virus particles. However, prolonged exposure to cold can reduce body temperature and lead to hypothermia, as described in Health Link BC's article on Hypothermia and Cold Temperature Exposure (https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/hypothermia-and-cold-temperature-exposure).

In short, cold weather itself does not make you sick. Instead, it’s the indirect effects—like spending more time indoors and reduced humidity—that increase the risk of illness during colder months.

Comments

I really like how in depth you went with your factcheck, as it shows how much research you did on the subject. I also like that you cited your sources, and went into detail about how it isn't the cold weather itself that causes sickness, but rather the effects and behaviors that occur during cold weather that are the real issue. The original claim is misleading, as it has been passed down through generations as a myth and people began to believe it, but your use of sources and extensive detail help to clarify the real issue and may help aid with confusion.

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I really liked how clear you were with this factcheck, making sure to include definitions and address common misconceptions. It really showed your understanding in your research of this claim. You bolstered this original claim by finding not one, but multiple outside resources along with a citation that gave evidence for why cold weather doesn't necessarily cause illness, but indirectly through a variety of factors. My main question is, how did you choose which articles to use as evidence, for example why did you choose to cite a 1968 study? My only concern is that this is a little out of date, however this factcheck provided valid and reliable evidence to prove this claim false.

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This is a very good fact check. You used several sources and provided in depth information on each category. I think this is very high quality and very helpful. Great job.

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I liked this fact check a lot because it is clear you spent time researching, checking your sources, and really understanding this topic. I like that you made it clear that it is not a direct effect, but has an indirect effect so the statement is not completely false. I feel you did a good job explaining the different reasons to back up your claim.

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This is a really good factcheck, the amount of evidence that you give is great and it does a really good job at supporting your claim that the cold itself doesn't make you sick. You also did a great job going in depth as well providing a lot of reliable sources.

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I really enjoyed reading this fact check because you clearly spent the time digging in depth to gain reputable sources to gain insight on the claim. I like your usage of sources and your understanding of the topic itself. I feel like your analysis was also very in depth and comprehensive to back up your original claim.

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This is a great analysis, I appreciate the time you spent you took to write this and carefully craft your argument.

Answer 5

This claim is an old wives tale that states going outside while it is cold will make you sick. While it is true people get more sick during this period it is mostly for these two reasons: more time spent indoors and around others who may be sick and have more germs around you and the lower humidity in the air causing nasal membranes to dry out, which allows more viruses and bacteria to enter the body.

Source: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/12/17/can-the-cold-really-make-you-sick

Comments

I like how you made the connection of why it is that people tend to get more sick when it is cold outside. It lets us know that it is true when it is a colder season people get more sick, but it is not because of what is going on outside. Your source that you used is also reliable and used professional medical entail.

Answer 6

The claim that cold weather directly makes a person sick is nothing more than an old wives tale/myth. The  New York Times article written by Karen Weintraub on February 23 2018 lists a doctors perspective to this question and states "People tend to link cold weather with colds, but that doesn’t mean there’s a cause and effect connection, Dr. Spinner said. “These viruses that cause us to catch a cold predominate during the winter months in this part of the world.” The article also talks about how cold weather changes people's everyday routines, "Plus, cold weather keeps people inside more. “We’re more likely to be in close quarters this time of year, close together among those who are already sick,” Dr. Michael L. Munger, a practicing family physician in Overland Park, Kan., said in an email. Home heating and humidity may also play a role in winter health, Dr. Spinner said. Running the heat to keep the house warm also dries it out — and can dry out our sinuses, too. “When you don’t have good nasal mucus flow, it’s harder for the immune system to work against the virus,” he said." Therefore Cold weather does not have a direct effect or link to sickness but rather is subjective and may cause routine activities that open the human body up to poorer health decisions. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/well/can-being-cold-make-you-sick.html

Answer 7

The idea that "cold weather itself makes you sick" is a common myth. Cold weather doesn’t directly cause illness, but it can create conditions that make it easier for viruses to spread and make people more susceptible to infection.

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

Answer 8

This claim is false. After research it shows that cold weather itself is not what makes you sick. It can be shown that it is a contributing factor but it is not what really makes you sick. You can not get a cold or flu from being in cold weather. You may be able to get hypothermia which can hurt your immune system but you are not going to be able to develop a disease that will get you sick. So this claim is just a myth we hear but it is not actually factual.

Article Used: https://www.unitypoint.org/news-and-articles/do-you-really-get-sick-from-being-cold

Comments

This is a clear statement with backup information well done, do you have further evidence, though, on why we can trust this new source?

Answer 9

This claim is a myth. People get sick a lot more during colder seasons. But being cold doesn't directly correlate to getting sick. Being cold can only increase the chances of getting sick. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/publications/health-matters/myth-masher-cracking-the-case-on-colds#:~:text=Myth%3A%20You'll%20catch%20a,the%20major%20cause%20of%20colds.

Answer 10

Cold weather itself may not make you sick, but it may be an indirect influence. Dry winter air helps viruses spread, and our bodies are not as effective at fighting these viruses in cold air. Despite this, staying inside to avoid these outcomes has evidence of actually being worse for you in the long run. Staying inside reduces vitamin D exposure, and these deficiencies have been linked to weakened immune systems. https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-winter-make-you-sick#:~:text=Cold%20weather%20may%20not%20be,more%20easily%20in%20the%20winter.

Comments

This is a good factcheck, I think that you did a very good job providing a reliable source that helps strengthen your claim that the cold doesn't make you sick. I also think you did a great job going in depth about how vitamin deficiencies weaken the immune system make you more likely to get sick.

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This is good, I like how you added a different reasoning I haven't seen the usage of vitamin C terms to argue against the claim. It brings a new perspective to the argument that is being created.

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Your analysis is a good overview of how cold weather can indirectly contribute to increased illness rates. It's insightful to note that while cold temperatures don't directly cause sickness, they create conditions such as dry air and increased indoor gatherings, that facilitate the spread of viruses.

Recent research has shown that cold temperatures can impair the immune response in the nasal cavity, making individuals more susceptible to infections. A study highlighted by Healthline found that a drop in nasal tissue temperature of just 5°C can reduce immune response by almost half.
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/scientists-finally-figure-out-why-youre-more-likely-to-get-sick-in-cold-weather?