"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 you provided do a great job explaining how this misconception is linked to changes in our behavior during colder months—people spend more time indoors near others, which makes it easier for infections to spread. Since your source is medically reviewed, it adds even more credibility to your argument. Overall, it's a strong claim with solid support!

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This fact check clears up the myth that cold weather directly causes colds. The article references a key research study called Quantifying the Role of Weather on Seasonal Influenza, which supports the claims made in the post. The study shows that while cold weather can influence how respiratory viruses spread, it doesn't cause colds. With credible sources like the CDC backing up the information, the article’s points are well-supported by solid evidence.

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Cold weather doesn't directly cause sickness, but it creates conditions like dry air and indoor crowding that help germs spread more easily. The real cause is exposure to viruses.

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This statement is false. The article did a good job of breaking down the myth that people can get sick from just cold weather. It had reputable sources listed like the CDC. It gave logical explanations about the real reason people seem to get more sick in the wintertime, like the amount of time spend inside and close to other people. There are also many articles agreeing with this claim.

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Group 6: Although more people do get sick while it is cold outside the cold weather itself does not make people get sick. However, it is a factor because it can weaken your immune system. It can also dry out your nasal passages which can make it more difficult for your body to filter out infection. Overall in the cold weather your body is not as effective at fighting off germs and sickness. The actual colder weather itself is not what is making you sick. It is your weakened immune system during the winter.
Sources:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/common-cold
https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-winter-make-you-sick

Answer 1

While it’s true that more people fall ill during the winter, the increase in respiratory infections is due to an environment that favors the spread of viruses rather than the cold temperature itself. Being cold may indirectly influence your susceptibility by prompting behaviors (like staying indoors) that facilitate viral transmission, but it is not the direct cause of your illness.This article explains that cold weather itself does not make you sick. Instead, it discusses how environmental factors associated with winter—such as low humidity and increased indoor crowding—create conditions that allow viruses to spread more easily. https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-you-get-sick-from-the-cold-8709721#:~:text=A%20common%20misconception%20is%20that,infections%20in%20the%20colder%20months.

Answer 2

The notion that cold weather is the primary cause of illness is a misconception. While winter months can bring more illnesses it is for a variety of reasons aside from the temperature change. "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." 

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

Answer 3

The idea that cold weather directly causes illness is a misconception. According to an article from Northwestern Medicine, cold temperatures do not directly lead to sickness but can increase the risk of falling ill. Additionally, dry winter air can enhance virus transmission. Physician Winston D. Rajendram from Northwestern explains that “as temperatures drop, we have more viruses in the environment.” Exposure to cold air can weaken the body's defenses in the nose and upper airways, making it easier for viruses such as the common cold, flu, and COVID-19 to spread during winter. This aligns with the idea that while cold weather itself does not directly cause illness, it creates conditions that allow viruses to spread more easily. 

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

Answer 4

after reading this claim, it made me curious about why people get sicker in the winter rather than the summer. I always thought it was due to cold weather, but after some research, it seems it is a little factor and not a major factor. your source provided good information, and I found many sources to back up your claim and source. in an article I read, it said it was not the main cause, but the dry air is what will do it due to your noses drying out and not being able to block viruses. therefore this is good argument and i think the cold is not the main source. good job!!!

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

Answer 5

I wouldn’t say that the cold making you sick is a myth but it is definitely exaggerated/misleading. The claim is correct by saying that colds and the flu are more common in the winter, and according to https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season.html flu season usually occurs in the fall and winter and peaks between December and February. The winter/cold creates an environment that makes certain people more susceptible to getting sick. The original claim makes many good points with supporting evidence proving low humidity, and being indoors with others makes it easier for germs to spread. Although they say “it is germs and not temperature”. According to Northwestern Medicine “Low temperatures can increase the likelihood of getting sick. The body is not as effective at fighting a virus when cold air enters the nose and upper airways, so viruses such as the common cold, the flu and COVID-19 often spread more easily in the winter”. So in conclusion the original claim makes many good points, but dismisses that temperature is most definitely a factor when it comes to getting sick. 

Comments

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

Answer 6

This claim displays a very common misconception. However, it is not true that cold weather makes you sick. According to a study by the American Heart Association, viruses may survive and reproduce more easily in the cold, dry air of winter. Plus, cold weather keeps people indoors, and viruses can spread more easily in close quarters. So, being sick is more probable during times of colder weather, but the weather itself is not the cause.

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