Why do you get a cold from the cold?

introduction

Traditionally, the assumption that the cold can catch you cold is widespread and persists to this day. A cold cannot be triggered by the influence of cold alone. If you get a cold after staying in a cold environment, a pathogen such as a virus must also be involved. Colds caused by an infection with a virus occur mainly in the cold months because the viruses have a better survival in cold air on the one hand and because the human immune system is weakened by cold and dry air on the other.

Why do you get a cold from the cold?

Cold alone is not a direct cause of a cold. Not everyone who is exposed to the cold gets a cold and, conversely, people get a cold too, even though they have not been in the cold before. Therefore, a direct correlation that only the cold without the presence of pathogens causes a cold cannot be proven. Rhinoviruses are a common cause of the common cold. These can survive best in cold, wet air. So they are supported in their functionality by the cold. About a fifth of all people have a permanent colonization of the nasal mucous membrane with these rhinoviruses. With warmth and a functioning immune system, these rhinoviruses are kept in check and there are no symptoms.

Research has shown that cold air has an inhibiting effect on the cleaning effect of the nasal mucous membrane. The nasal lining cleanses the air we breathe and can also clear pathogens before they can cause an infection. If the nose is now exposed to the cold, the blood circulation is reduced and fewer immune cells reach the mucous membrane in order to ward off potential pathogens. The nasal mucous membrane is weakened even further as it dries out from the dry air that is typical of the cold. As it dries out, it becomes more susceptible to infections such as rhinoviruses. Cold is therefore a contributing factor in causing a cold. Persistent cold effects on the insufficiently protected body can also weaken the immune system.

When it is cold, the entire organism works more slowly and the immune system is also affected. For this, however, intense cold is necessary and appropriate clothing can protect against this effect. However, it cannot be sufficiently differentiated whether the weakening of the immune system is really triggered by the cold or whether other factors also play a role. One of these factors is a vitamin D deficiency, which can be caused by the low level of solar radiation in winter. It also leads to a weakening of the immune system. An indirect connection between the cold and a cold can be found insofar as people tend to stay in buildings during the cold season. Due to poor ventilation and sick people in the area, the cold can spread better and faster. The dry air created by the heating also plays a role in the susceptibility of the nasal region to infections.

Read more on this topic at: Causes of a cold

What can you do to prevent you from catching a cold when it's cold?

Appropriate clothing should be worn when outdoors. Above all, the core of the body should be kept warm. In humans, staying in the fresh, albeit cold, air is actually beneficial for the immune system. Heated rooms, which are a frequent place to stay during the cold days, should be ventilated regularly so that the spread of pathogens can be limited. In this sense, direct physical contact with people with a cold should be avoided.

A healthy and balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables is recommended as a general measure. In addition, alcohol and smoking should ideally be avoided and enough sleep can also protect against a cold.

Read more on this topic at: How can you prevent a cold?

Why is the common cold called a cold?

The concept of the common cold has a historical origin. Even in ancient Rome, the common cold was associated with being in the cold. The term common cold also originates from this period. The term was handed down over many centuries and even after it was discovered that the connection between cold and a cold is not completely correct, the term remains common in common parlance.