"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/

Answer 1

This article explores if cold weather may cause colds. It takes on the common myth, yet myth busts it, arguing how cold weather is correlated to colds but doesn't cause colds. The article uses reliable facts and correlates them, such as how lower Vitamin D can lead to less production. 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.